Real estate transactions generate a great deal of written communications; Contracts, attorney review letters, inspection reports, negotiation letters, title commitments, etc. Many of these items will require your review and comment. My policy is for you to see everything that is happening with your file as soon as it happens.
We distribute everything as email attachments. All letters are forwarded via email to our clients and to the realtors. This includes items drafted within my offices as well as everything that comes in from outside sources. We turn everything in to a pdf file and email it to you upon receipt.
In the interest of total transparency, I’ve compiled a list of answers to some of the most common questions people sometimes have during the transaction.
Before you look for a home
When interviewing mortgage lenders, keep in mind that each time a lender checks your credit score, the score may drop slightly. Therefore, first choose your lender, based on their estimated interest rates, fees and upon your interview of the representatives. After you have chosen the lender, then have that lender run your credit score so that he can quote you the actual rates based on your credit.
Now that you know how much house you can afford, the next step is to put together the team of real estate professionals that will help you achieve your goals. Your team will include a realtor, a real estate attorney, a home inspector and an insurance professional.
Finding a home
Keep in mind that your realtor is a professional who has invested his or her time in helping you find the right home. You should honor that relationship and call your realtor before viewing any homes. For example, if you ever see a home that your realtor has not already discussed with you, or an open house or perhaps a ‘for sale by owner’, always contact your realtor. Do not call the homeowner or the agent whose name is on the sign. Chances are your agent is already aware of the home and can tell you if it meets your requirements. If the house is worth your consideration, your agent will contact the homeowner or listing agent on your behalf to make the arrangements to see it.
Offer & Acceptance
Attorney Review
There are three main things you need to know about Attorney Review:
First, Attorney Review is not three days. The three day period is the time during which the first Review letter must be sent. If the attorneys do not “disapprove” of the Contract within the first three business days the Contract will be binding as written.
The Contract is not binding on either party until the Review is concluded. This means that it is important that the Review be conducted, and concluded, as quickly as possible.
Third, if you have any questions about the Contract, or if there is anything that you feel MUST be added to the Contract, we need to discuss it before Attorney Review is concluded.
Inspections
You should have your inspections performed as quickly as possible once the contract is out of attorney review. The contract will have a time limit for doing so. You will choose and hire the inspectors and your realtor will handle the logistics of access to the home at the appropriate time.
The most common inspections are the structural inspection, wood destroying insect inspection, pool and septic inspections (if applicable), underground oil tank sweep and radon test. Based on the results of the initial inspections you may also wish to have further testing performed, such as asbestos tests, mold tests, ‘level II’ chimney test, lead paint tests, etc. If the home has well water, it is the seller’s responsibility to have a well water quality test performed. It is also the seller’s responsibility to have any municipal inspections (smoke detector certificate, certificate of occupancy) performed and to obtain the certificates.
Your inspector will send the reports to you and should also copy your attorney. You will review the reports with your attorney to discuss the issues, if any, that you may ask the sellers to remedy prior to closing. Your attorney will send copies of the reports to the seller’s attorney along with a list of your repair demands.
The sellers will respond to your demands and the response could be that they will address all issues, or that they will address none of the issues, or something in between. The parties will negotiate, hopefully, to a mutually acceptable agreement.If defects are found, and if the seller refuses to address the defects, the buyer may have the right to cancel the Contract and would be entitled to the return of any down payment.
In some cases the parties may agree upon monetary credits in lieu of actual repairs. This could be advantageous to both parties. Keep in mind, however, that any such credits must be approved by the buyer’s mortgage lender. There will be specific rules regarding whether credits are allowed and, if so, how large they may be.
One common misconception in real estate transactions is the meaning of “As-Is”. In most cases, even if a transaction is “As-Is” the buyer is still entitled to the usual home inspections. If a serious defect is found, the seller is not legally obligated to make the repair, but the buyer will still have the right to cancel the Contract.
a. Major issues: UST, mold, asbestos, K&T wiring, Federal Pacific panel
Mortgage Financing
The commitment is issued by the buyer’s mortgage lender after the lender has put the loan application through processing (document gathering) and underwriting (document review).
Your lender will complete a mortgage application with you and will ask for documentation regarding your finances. Be prepared to provide bank statements, pay slips, W2’s, tax returns, etc. Be prepared to explain any unusual deposits to your accounts. Keep copies of everything you provide and be prepared to resubmit those items. Stay on top of your loan officer and on the loan processor to make sure that the process keeps moving forward.
- Purchase agreement for the house
- Bank statements for the last three months
- Investment statements for the last three months: IRA/401(k), stocks, bonds, Certificates of Deposit (CD’s)
- Up to one year’s worth of canceled rent checks, or your landlord’s phone number
- Previous rental information including address, and names and addresses of previous landlords
- Your most recent pay stub and the past two years’ W-2 withholding forms
- Schedule C attachments if you’re self-employed
- Utility bills
- Statements or pay stubs for car loans, student loans, and other personal loans
- Divorce papers, if applicable – and especially if you plan to use alimony or child support as income
- Balance sheets and tax returns
- Social security card and driver’s license
Part of the mortgage underwriting will be an appraisal to confirm the value of the home. The appraisal is arranged by the mortgage lender, but will be at your cost. The appraiser should contact your realtor for access to the home.
Once you have applied for your financing, do not make any changes to your financial status without speaking with your loan officer first. Do not change jobs, do not make any major purchases, do not take out any new credit, and do not allow any bills to go 30 days beyond their due dates. Your lender will do credit and employment verifications shortly before closing.
- Types of loans:
- Conventional
- FHA/VA
- Rehab, 203k
When choosing a mortgage professional there is more to consider than rates alone. Choose a mortgage lender that will give your transaction the attention it deserves; someone that you can reach when you need them and that will be with you through the entire transaction.
Remember that if a mortgage deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. I have seen many cases where lenders that quoted the lowest rates upfront will try to add in extras fees and costs at closing.
Title Searches & Insurance
Your attorney will arrange for a title insurance agency to prepare a title report for the home. The company will search the County and State records and will report upon the owners of the home, prior owners, tax payment status and any liens against the property. The report is also a commitment from the title agency to insure the title to the home as long as certain requirements are met.
The cost of the title searches and the premiums for the title insurance policies are paid by the buyer at closing. These costs are regulated and do not vary from one agency to another.
Property Survey
As with the title insurance, the cost of the survey is paid by the buyer at closing. The cost is usually $350 for a condominium, $685 for a normal size detached home, or more for extra large properties.
Closing Preparation
Prior to the closing you will do a final walk-through of the home. This is to ensure that the sellers have completely moved out, that any agreed upon repairs have been completed, and that the home is in ‘broom clean’ condition. If there are any problems at the walk-through, call your attorney right away. This will give him/her a chance to have the issues addressed before everyone arrives for the closing.
Also prior to closing you will have to go to your bank to arrange for the funds for the closing. The settlement agent cannot accept a personal check, so you will have to arrange either a wire transfer or a teller check. Your attorney will give you the amount needed as well as the wire or check instructions as far in advance of closing as possible. This usually works out to be the day before closing, depending upon when the mortgage lender provides the settlement figures.
Be sure to have home insurance (hazard insurance) arranged and effective as of the day of closing.
- All buyers and their spouses must attend unless told otherwise
- Photo identification is required
The Closing
The second part of the closing is the closing of title, during which the seller’s attorney will provide a Deed which transfers ownership of the home to the buyers, along with other necessary documents. The buyers will get keys to the home and the sellers will receive the funds due to them.
If everyone has done their job properly the closing itself should be the easiest part of the entire transaction. We will have all necessary documents, including the settlement statement, prepared and reviewed in advance of closing. We will also have the Deed and other seller documents reviewed and approved by the title company in advance of closing.
Once the closing is concluded, the home is yours. You will leave your attorney’s office with a Deed to the home and keys. You can start moving in right away.