Request for Qualified Closing Attorneys for IA''s Homeownership Incentives program

Invest Atlanta and the Urban Residential Finance Authority of the City of Atlanta (“URFA”) are establishing a qualified pool of Georgia-licensed attorneys to conduct residential real estate closings for buyers receiving down-payment and closing-cost assistance under Invest Atlanta's Homeownership Incentives Program.

This Request for Qualifications (“RFQC”) seeks to identify a pool of qualified Georgia attorneys and law firms (“Respondents”) to serve as Participating Attorneys, facilitating residential closings for Program participants from the RFQC's effective date through December 31, 2029 (the “Attorney Acceptance Period”), unless engagements are sooner terminated by URFA or until all Program funds are depleted.

Selected Participating Attorneys will facilitate residential real estate closings for Program participants, in conjunction with a Preferred Lender's or Invest Atlanta's first-mortgage loan and the applicable URFA/Invest Atlanta subordinate loan(s).

Pre-Closing Coordination

• Receive and review closing packages, subordinate loan documents, and program eligibility documentation from Invest Atlanta/URFA and the Preferred Lender.
• Order, review, and clear title; identify and resolve liens, judgments, encumbrances, and other title defects prior to closing.
• Coordinate closing scheduling with the buyer, seller, first-mortgage lender, real estate agents, and Invest Atlanta/URFA.
• Prepare or review all closing documents for the first-mortgage loan and the subordinate loan(s), including notes, security deeds, and program-specific riders or covenants (e.g., affordability periods, recapture or resale restrictions).

Closing and Execution

• Conduct the closing in person as the supervising Georgia-licensed attorney, consistent with the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and controlling case law governing attorney-supervised real estate closings.
• Explain closing documents to the buyer in plain language, including repayment, forgiveness, or recapture terms and any restrictions attached to the assistance.
• Collect and disburse closing funds through the Attorney's IOLTA/trust account in accordance with Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.15.
• Issue title insurance policies (owner's and lenders’, as applicable) and record all conveyance and security instruments in the applicable county real estate records.

Post-Closing and Compliance

• Deliver final, recorded documents, title policies, and the closing/settlement statement to Invest Atlanta/URFA and the first-mortgage lender within the timeframe specified by URFA.
• Respond to trailing document requests and post-closing corrections in a timely manner.
• Maintain organized, confidential closing files and provide copies or reports to Invest Atlanta/URFA upon request, consistent with Program record-retention requirements and applicable public-records obligations.
• Attend mandatory Program training and comply with all URFA/Invest Atlanta closing guidelines, forms, and fee restrictions.

Program Fee Restrictions

• No attorney fee may be charged for closing a subordinate URFA/Invest Atlanta down-payment-assistance loan.
• All fees charged in connection with a Program closing must be usual and customary.
• No intangible tax may be charged on a subordinate down-payment assistance loan.
• Title insurance and recording fees must be charged on all subordinate loans.

All responses must be submitted electronically in PDF format by **5:00 PM ET on November 16th, 2026**, to IAprocurement@investatlanta.com.

• Subject line must read: RFQC Response — Closing Attorneys [Firm Name]’.
• Each PDF must begin with the completed *Response Cover Sheet* (Appendix A).
• Maximum file size: 125 MB.
• Late submissions will not be accepted.

Evaluation (100 pts): Firm Overview & Team Qualifications 25 pts; Relevant Experience 25 pts; Approach, Compliance & Quality Control 20 pts; Client Communication & Cultural Competency 15 pts; Financial Capacity & Fee Structure 15 pts. A minimum evaluation-committee score (e.g., 70/100), to be set by Invest Atlanta, is required for admission to the pool.

The firm maintains, and will provide proof of, professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance and fidelity bond coverage at the levels required by Invest Atlanta/URFA.

The Attorney Acceptance Period runs through December 31, 2029.