Thank you everyone who has helped answered my many questions since I began this learning journey into property investing Can anyone comment if there is any advantage to having a solicitor local(ish) or close by to the area where I want to buy a property? I’ve noticed that the vendors solicitor is. Mine is in a major city quite a distance away. Just got me thinking if I should do the same as they would be more familiar with the area?
Doesn't really matter if your conveyancer is local to the purchase or not. These days the settlement process is done online, the various parties often never meet. Where they do meet, they'll usually hire someone local to exchange the documents. Usually the equivalent of a legal clerk.
Many reasons that the vendor is using a local eg familiarity with the vendor/previous dealings, first one that sprang to mind, recommended by agent, family friend, price, competence etc. Reasons for using your own - as per @Peter_Tersteeg