Basic Residential Real Estate Transactions 2026

  • Webcast seminar
  • OnDemand seminar
  • Course manual (PDF)
  • Course manual (PDF) and Audio (MP3)
  • MP3
  • New Lawyer
  • Real Estate Law
Up to 6.5 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
Basic Residential Real Estate Transactions 2026

Endorsed by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin

The anatomy of a deal

Residential real estate is often where lawyers first encounter a practice that feels concrete, client-facing, and outcome-driven. If you’re looking to add real estate to your firm’s offerings or brush up on the fundamentals, Basic Residential Real Estate Transactions walks you through a residential deal from start to finish. Experienced real estate professionals highlight the decisions that shape results for buyers and sellers, combining practical instruction with real-world insight.

From listing to closing

Follow the life of a typical residential real estate deal and learn how veteran lawyers approach drafting, negotiating, documentation, and closing strategy at each stage.

8:30 am
Contracts

Jennifer Lindsley

  • Listing contracts, agency agreements and for sale by owner
  • Drafting the offer
  • Contingencies
  • Responding to an offer
  • Amendments and notices
10:20 am
Break
10:35 am
Legal Descriptions and Surveys

Cheryl A. Hipenbecker

  • Introduction to the 3 main types of legal descriptions (PLSS, metes and bounds, plats)
  • Learn how to read a US Public Land Survey System (PLSS) legal description and a metes and bounds legal description
  • Introduction to different survey types (ALTA/NSPS surveys, Plats of Survey
  • Considerations when selecting a survey
  • Reading surveys and identifying problems in a survey
11:25 am
Easements

William T. Stuart

  • Understanding and explaining easements
  • Negotiating easements
  • Drafting easements
  • Will need coverage
12:15 pm
Lunch (on your own)
1:15 pm
Closings

Scott J. Hutchison

  • Checklists for buyers and sellers
  • Preparation of closing documents
  • Closing statements
  • Conducting the closing
2:15 pm
Title Considerations

Duane H. Wunsch

  • Overview of title commitment and insurance
  • Exceptions to coverage
  • Liens and encumbrances
  • Verification of title insurance
  • Gap coverage
3:05 pm
Question and Answer
3:15 pm
Program concludes
9:30 pm
Other Agreements

Mark C. Young

  • Escrow agreements for repairs
  • Agreements regarding taxes and assessments
  • Joint wells
  • Shared driveways
  • Personal property

Program Chair and Presenter

Mark C. Young
Attorney Mark C. Young · Milwaukee

Presenters

Jennifer Lindsley
Wisconsin Realtors Association · Madsion
Cheryl A. Hipenbecker
Knight Barry Title, Inc. · Milwaukee
Scott J. Hutchison
Knight Barry Title, Inc. · Milwaukee
William T. Stuart
Stuart, Tokarz, Soberalski & Pollard LLC · Milwaukee
Duane H. Wunsch
Fidelity National Title Group · Brookfield

Sponsored by

Interested in sponsoring this program? Find out more.

  • Develop a working understanding of the residential transaction process, from listing through closing
  • Learn how to spot common issues at every stage of the deal
  • Improve your ability to communicate real estate concepts to your client clearly and accurately
  • Leave with dozens of sample forms and closing checklists you can adapt and use in your own practice
  • Determine whether residential real estate is a worthwhile addition to your practice
  • Lawyers looking to add real estate to their practice
  • Real estate lawyers seeking a refresher
  • General practitioners
  • Paralegals working in real estate practices

YLD Discount!

Young Lawyers Division members receive a $20 discount on tuition.* Discount applied automatically upon log-in.

*Young Lawyers Division Members are State Bar member attorneys 36 years of age or younger, or within five years of admission to the State Bar of Wisconsin. If you’ve opted out of YLD, you will not receive this discount. The $20 discount only applies to in-person, live webcast, and webcast replay versions of this seminar – not CLE OnDemand.. YLD members with Ultimate Passes, other CLE passes, or PINNACLE discounts are not eligible for this discount.

Book Bonus!

Real Estate Transactions System
Save 15% on Real Estate Transactions System.* Inside, you’ll find an easy-to-use seven-step system for collecting and organizing client information, along with checklists, forms, and practical guidance for every stage of the transaction. Use discount code CA3946 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/27. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

BYP

The Build Your Practice Series from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® introduces you to the fundamentals of various practice areas. Gain the tools and information you need to develop a new area of practice and expand your firm's offerings. Build Your Practice Series programs are endorsed by the State Bar's Young Lawyers Division.