60/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.5★ from 17 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Real estate attorney”.
Real Estate Lawyers in Southern Pines, NC: 2026 rankings
11 real estate lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Southern Pines: Hutchens Law Firm LLP, LFR Score 60/100; 3.5★ from 17 Google reviews.
- 5
Most-reviewed: Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC, 143 Google reviews at 4.0★, the most of 11 ranked; ranked #5.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
11 Southern Pines real estate lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. The median Google rating is 4.2★ across 11 rated law firms.
Top 10 real estate lawyers in Southern Pines at a glance
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Based in | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hutchens Law Firm LLP | 60 | 3.5★ (17) | Southern Pines | Top score |
| 2 | John L. Ritter, Attorney at Law | 59 | 4.9★ (18) | Pinehurst, 13 mi away | — |
| 3 | Stephenson & Stephenson, PA Attorneys at Law | 59 | 4.5★ (64) | Sanford, 24 mi away | — |
| 4 | Coldwell Banker Advantage | 58 | 4.9★ (89) | Southern Pines | — |
| 5 | Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC | 54 | 4.0★ (143) | Pinehurst, 4 mi away | Most reviews |
| 6 | Hutchens Law Firm LLP | 54 | 4.8★ (5) | Spring Lake, 21 mi away | — |
| 7 | Lorenz & Creed Law Firm, PLLC | 53 | 4.2★ (41) | Southern Pines | — |
| 8 | Garner Law Firm PLLC | 51 | 3.7★ (19) | Pinehurst, 2 mi away | — |
| 9 | A Southern Land Title Agency, LLC | 49 | 4.2★ (5) | Southern Pines | — |
| 10 | Sanford Law Group | 49 | 4.4★ (71) | Sanford, 24 mi away | — |
All 11 real estate lawyers in Southern Pines, in rank order
Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
Scores below: based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.
Based in Pinehurst, 13 mi away
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 18 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Real estate attorney”.
Based in Sanford, 24 mi away
59/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 64 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Real estate attorney”.
Based in Southern Pines
58/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 89 Google reviews.
Based in Pinehurst, 4 mi away
54/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.0★ from 143 Google reviews, the most in Southern Pines.
Based in Spring Lake, 21 mi away
54/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.8★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Real estate attorney”.
Based in Southern Pines
53/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.2★ from 41 Google reviews.
Based in Pinehurst, 2 mi away
51/100LFR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.7★ from 19 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
Based in Southern Pines
49/100LFR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Title company”.
Based in Sanford, 24 mi away
49/100LFR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.4★ from 71 Google reviews.
Based in Sanford, 25 mi away
45/100LFR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.7★ from 16 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.
Also serving Southern Pines
20 more real estate lawyers within 25 mi that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a practice area we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.
| Business | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Brent Adams & Associates | 4.9★ (303) | In Southern Pines |
| Bruce T Cunningham Law Office | 4.7★ (3) | In Southern Pines |
| Carolina Tax, Trusts & Estates | 5.0★ (84) | In Southern Pines |
| Crockett Oldham Pope & Donadio: Donadio Arthur A | 3.8★ (32) | In Southern Pines |
| Dawkins Law Firm | 4.2★ (60) | In Southern Pines |
| Foyles Law Firm PLLC | 3.7★ (74) | In Southern Pines |
| Frank C. Thigpen | 4.0★ (8) | In Southern Pines |
| Gill & Tobias LLP | 2.6★ (14) | In Southern Pines |
| Laura S. Creed | 5.0★ (5) | In Southern Pines |
| Law Office of Marsh Smith, PA | 4.3★ (6) | In Southern Pines |
| Law Office of Richard J. Costanza, P.A. | 4.9★ (201) | In Southern Pines |
| Law Offices of Ron Scott Pllc | 4.7★ (172) | In Southern Pines |
| Pines Law | In Southern Pines | |
| Poyner & Spruill | 5.0★ (2) | In Southern Pines |
| Robbins May & RICH Llp: Niebauer T Patricia | 5.0★ (2) | In Southern Pines |
| Sandhills Law Group | 4.3★ (15) | In Southern Pines |
| The Baker Law Firm | 4.1★ (42) | In Southern Pines |
| Thigpen & Jenkins, L.L.P. | 4.6★ (68) | In Southern Pines |
| Thompson Robert S | 3.0★ (4) | In Southern Pines |
| Ward Law Offices, PLLC | 5.0★ (1) | In Southern Pines |
How we ranked Southern Pines real estate lawyers
We scored 11 Southern Pines real estate lawyers on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Southern Pines data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 25% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it | Measured |
| Bar status | 10% | An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded) | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 5% | Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7 | Measured |
| Practice focus | 15% | How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name) | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is | Measured |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same) | Measured |
| Law Firms Ranked reviews | 10% | Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are | Measured |
How to choose a real estate lawyer
- Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
- Ask how many real estate law matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
- Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
- Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
- Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
- Ask what the closing fee includes and which disbursements are charged on top.
- Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.
Questions to ask a real estate lawyer
- How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
- How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
- Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
- What does your closing fee include?
- Will you review the purchase contract before I sign?
- Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?
Terms explained
- Contingency fee
- A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
- Retainer
- Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
- Flat fee
- One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
- Limited-scope representation
- Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
- Good standing
- A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
- Law society
- The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
- Board certification
- Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
- Attorney–client privilege
- The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
- Conflict check
- The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
- Pro bono
- Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
- Legal aid
- Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.
Real estate lawyers in Southern Pines: frequently asked questions
Which real estate lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Southern Pines?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked real estate lawyer in Southern Pines, NC is Hutchens Law Firm LLP with an LFR Score of 60/100. It has 3.5★ from 17 Google reviews. John L. Ritter, Attorney at Law (#2) and Stephenson & Stephenson, PA Attorneys at Law (#3) follow. We ranked 11 real estate lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many real estate lawyers are there in Southern Pines?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 11 real estate lawyers serving Southern Pines, NC. 4 of them are based in Southern Pines; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
What Google rating do Southern Pines real estate lawyers have?
The median Google rating among 11 rated real estate lawyers in Southern Pines is 4.2★, with a median of 19 reviews. Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC has the most, 143 reviews, and ranks #5. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.
How does LawFirmsRanked rank real estate lawyers?
Each real estate lawyer gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.
Do real estate lawyers outside Southern Pines count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Southern Pines city center, our service radius for real estate lawyers. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.
Can real estate lawyers pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?
No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.
How do real estate lawyers in Southern Pines, NC charge?
Real estate lawyers often charge a flat fee for a residential closing and hourly rates for disputes and commercial work. Lawyers using Clio billed an average of $399 an hour in this area (Clio Legal Trends data, October 2026; all areas $362). Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.
Do I need a lawyer to buy a house?
It depends on the state: some states require or customarily use an attorney for closings, others use title or escrow companies. A lawyer can still review the contract before you sign. This is general information, not legal advice.
How is this list of real estate lawyers in Southern Pines, NC ranked?
By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.
Does a lawyer need an office in Southern Pines?
No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.
Update log for Southern Pines
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 11 real estate lawyers serving Southern Pines.
More real estate lawyers and Southern Pines pages
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