Many sellers do not want to list their home with an agent, because they must pay the fees to both their agent, and the buyers. Oftentimes on a house hunt, you will see a home hat is “Fore Sale by Owner.” If you see a home that interests you that is being sold by this method, it is normal to wonder how what the difference is, and how to go about it. Buying a home that is for sale by the owner can have its challenges, because you won’t have the benefit of working with a realtor. Here is some advice on how to go about a home listed for sale directly by the owner.
If you have been working with a realtor while looking at other properties, but then set your eyes on one that is For Sale by Owner, you will not be able to ask your realtor for their help. They work on commission, and in these types of deals, they can’t help.
Agents work with other licensed professionals such as home inspectors and appraisers to help you see if you are not only making a good choice, but a good investment, because that’s what a home is, its an investment. They increase and decrease in value. Know that by choosing a home sold by this method that you are going in it alone.
Before you start looking at houses, you should get a pre-approval letter from a mortgage company. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is surprising how many first time home buyers don’t realize this. This letter is extremely important because it lets the seller know that you can afford to purchase the house. It also is a great way to negotiate. If another interested party doesn’t have a letter, they’ll put you first.
A realtor is often called the “middleman.” Because you will no longer have one, you are going to be directly communicating with the homeowner yourself. Without realtors involved, the owner will be showing you the property. This can make a buyer very uncomfortable being you are being hovered over, which makes it difficult for you to really give thought to details as you walk around, while you have someone breathing down your neck. Be sure to examine all little things.
You should get a CLUE report which will show that you have a five year history of insurance claims that have been filed for the property you are looking at. You will need the sellers permission to run this report.
It is a critical element because it will reveal problems that the house may be prone to, as well as show you the potential for higher insurance rates for the property as most insurance companies will use the claims history on a property when calculating rates.
When you purchase a house through the owner, it is risky. Home inspections are a very important step to not overlook, as there can be hidden problems that were unknown, or, problems that were known by the seller but omitted altogether. A well-trained home inspector can find many of these problems so that you are fully aware of what you are getting into. Electrical wiring problems, or traces of lead throughout the home are just two examples.
You really should have a real estate attorney help you through the sales contract. In some states, it actually is mandatory that a real estate attorney handle the transfer documents and closing. Be sure that you are properly represented. Your attorney can ensure that your contract contains contingencies to enable you to back out of the contract, for example if there are problems found during the home inspection, appraisal or with liens.
Just as a seller may be asking too much, sometimes a buyer might be offering too little. One way to find out how much the house is worth is to obtain a valuation report. These reports will use a number of different metrics such as trends, title records, market conditions and tax assessments, to determine the home’s value. You can also look at recent sales of similar houses in the neighborhood.
When you make your offer, you will likely be required to pay out some earnest money to secure the deal. It is generally a very good idea to use a 3rd party that will manage the Earnest Money. It should go into an escrow account, because if something goes wrong between when you put the money down and the closing, you will be able to get your money back with very little hassle. Check out this useful article on CLUE Report – What Is It, and How Can it Help Homebuyers?
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If you buy a FSBO house, you will most definitely want to hire a Real Estate Attorney, who will be working in your best interest to ensure that the transaction is legal. Never purchase a home FSBO home without a Real Estate Attorney. Actually, you really shouldn’t buy a house in any other form without hiring one. Since the owner is selling the house on their own, it will be up to you to pay for your own representation, and since this will require legal advice, please be sure to hire an Attorney at this point, it will cost a few hundred to as much as a few thousand dollars but you will be best protected, and can sleep at night!