Real Estate Transactions in Virginia

This handbook is written by and for practicing attorneys who handle real estate transactions, whether residential or commercial. It is current through legislation passed at the 2026 session of the General Assembly.

In the words of this handbook’s distinguished co-editors, Paul H. Melnick and William G. Homiller: “This book is important because it provides both experienced and newer real estate attorneys with current law and practical pointers. It also serves as a convenient reference for those basic points of Virginia real property law that we learned in law school and think we remember correctly, but are not quite certain. The forms also add to its usefulness.”

In addition to chapters covering residential and commercial real estate contracts and the financing of those transactions, this handbook separately covers condominium transactions, Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, and FIRPTA transactions.

Separate chapters are also devoted to matters that may arise in the course of the transaction and how to address them, including forms of holding title to the property, mechanics’ liens, title examinations and insurance, planning and zoning, and opinion letters in real estate finance transactions. For more detail about contents, click on the “Table of Contents” tab.

Finally, the text is complemented by 91 editable forms in Word format for use in your practice, as well as numerous forms provided by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR).