Real Estate Paralegal-FG

Forestar Group Inc. is a residential and real estate development company and a majority-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton, Inc., the largest homebuilder by volume in the United States for sixteen consecutive years.

Forestar Group is currently looking for an Real Estate Paralegal. The right candidate will assist the Forestar Region teams with processing the contracting, entitlement, and closing of real estate acquisitions. Responsible for procurement of information and documentation for due diligence reviews, including title, zoning, permitting, and other entitlements. Responsible for initial drafting and organizing of transactional documents for real estate closings. Will assist with organizing and fulfilling checklists, including arranging closing documentation and obtaining necessary transactional approvals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Review and confirm legal descriptions of property based on third-party title work
• Work with municipalities, governmental agencies, and outside consultants in obtaining key due diligence information and documentation for acquisition targets
• Manage communication, document execution and workflow for closings of Forestar acquisitions
• Review and confirm closing statements, including tax prorations and other fees/charges
• Facilitate communication between Forestar Region, seller’s counsel, and closing counsel/settlement agent
• Coordinate acquisition file management, involving coordinating all aspects of an acquisition and ensuring appropriate steps are taken in a timely fashion
• Provide key closing documents to Corporate Accounting and provide entire closing package to corporate for permanent filing
• Assist in drafting of purchase and sale agreements, assignments, development management agreements, amendments thereto, deeds and affidavits, and create closing checklists for all real estate deals
• Assist in drafting and revising vendor agreements for construction and development of real estate, and create checklists regarding deliverables for Forestar and vendor pursuant to such agreements
• Calculate legal deadlines and filing documents as required
• Ensure the Forestar Region adheres to due diligence calendars and eliminate schedule conflicts
• Review title reports and exception documents
• Review certificates of insurance to confirm appropriate coverage and policy amounts
• Draft and sign legal correspondence that is informative in nature but does not include legal opinion or advice
• Prepare requests for funding of acquisitions and monitor financial transactions
• Prepare closing instruction letters, closing documents and binders, review title policies and work with title companies regarding any policy issues
• Perform clerical and administrative duties as needed
• Understand entitlement processes and procedures
• Perform legal research, fact gathering, and information retrieval both via traditional systems such as libraries and computer-based research
• Respond to requests for information
• Archive files and documents
• Conducts all business in a professional and ethical manner to serve customers and increase the goodwill and proficiency of the company
• Ability to work overtime, if needed based on office’s collective workload and impending deadlines

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school
• 5+ years of Real Estate transactional experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Highly organized and able to track an acquisition from initial contact through closing
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to work independently and within a team
• Demonstrate an ability to meet strict deadlines, with multiple projects while maintaining organized project files
• Must process creative problem-solving skills, resourcefulness and tenacity
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written oral form or via FOR applications
• Proficiency with MS Office, with proficiency in MS Excel and Outlook, with high proficiency in MS Word
• Ability to sit for majority of 8-hour workday; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and peripheral vision
• The noise level is generally moderate

Preferred Qualifications

• Paralegal experience and/or certification is a plus
• Experience in residential real estate is preferred

Come join a winning team! We are growing fast and are looking for enthusiastic attitudes and team players to join our success. We offer an excellent benefits package:

• 
  Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401(K)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Vacation, Sick, Personal Time and Company Holidays
• Multiple Voluntary and Company provided Benefits