The Offer

When a buyer makes an offer to purchase your home, your REALTOR® will contact you promptly. The REALTOR® will scrutinize the document, review it with you carefully, and answer your questions. The written offer is important because it lays out all the terms of the proposed transaction and will become a binding contract if you sign it. The offer states the price the buyer is willing to pay and the financing terms, such as assuming your loan or arranging a new loan.

The offer may be contingent on the buyer's selling a home first, or obtaining an inspection. Ask the REALTOR® how these terms affect you and whether the offer is reasonable and in line with the market. The offer describes the property, states who pays for which closing costs, and specifies dates of closing and possession. Along with making the offer, the buyer may place some earnest money with the escrow agent as a sign of good faith. The earnest money will be kept in an escrow account and applied to the buyer's down payment or closing costs when the sale closes.

Your options
In reviewing the offer, you have three options: accept, reject, or make a counteroffer. A counteroffer is a rejection of a buyer's offer with a simultaneous offer from you to the buyer. In making your decision, carefully review the figures compiled earlier to determine your net proceeds. Because the terms and estimated closing costs may be quite different from earlier calculations, you will want to discuss the possibilities with your REALTOR®. You are also encouraged to seek the advice of an attorney and a tax adviser.

Seller's Disclosure
In most residential sales, a seller will deliver a Seller's Disclosure Notice to a buyer on or before the effective date of a contract to purchase the property. The notice is required by law to be delivered. It provides important information about the seller's knowledge of the condition of the property. Complete the notice to your best knowledge and belief. Your REALTOR® will most likely ask that you complete the notice at the time the listing is first taken. Copies of the completed notice will be made available to the prospects looking at your property.

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
If your property was built before 1978, federal law requires that before a buyer is obligated under a contract to buy the property, the seller shall: 1) provide the buyer with a lead hazard information pamphlet (as prescribed by EPA); 2) disclose the presence of any known lead-based paint or hazard; 3) provide the buyer with a lead hazard evaluation report or records available to the seller; and 4) permit the buyer to conduct a risk assessment or inspection for the presence of lead-based paint or hazards. A contract for the sale of property built before 1978 must contain a statutorily prescribed Lead Warning Statement to the buyer. Your REALTOR® will provide you with the forms necessary to comply with their law and will suggest procedures to follow in order to comply.

Accepting the offer
Once you and the buyer agree on terms and sign the contract, the buyer will generally have to find a lender and apply for a loan. Your REALTOR® may monitor the loan process, which could last several weeks. During this time, your REALTOR® will also be busy coordinating other arrangements to prepare for the final sale.

Title search
As part of the process, the title company may order a survey of your property and research the title to your home, making sure the chain of title is clear. Clearing the title may require paying off liens - that is, any monetary claims - against your property. Examples are mechanic's liens, unpaid state and federal tax liens, court judgments, and probate considerations (if a co-owner has died). The product of the title search can be in the form of title insurance, abstract of title, or certificate of title, depending on what is commonly used in your area.

Inspection and repairs
If the buyer requires inspections of your home, your REALTOR® may coordinate the scheduling of inspectors. A buyer may hire an inspector to review many items in the property such as the structural components, mechanical items, electrical systems and plumbing systems. The inspector will report to the buyer the items that the inspector finds to be in need of repair. Most likely the buyer will provide a copy of the inspection report to you and may ask you to complete certain repairs. Do not be surprised when the inspection notes some items in need of repair. An inspector is trained to see items and defects that are not obvious to you and your REALTOR®. No matter how new or well maintained a home is, an inspector may very well find some items in need of repair.

Interested in Multifamily or Duplex as an owner occupant or investment? Visit www.GeorgetownDuplex.com

Georgetown Active Adult Communities - Click Here

3 Bedroom Townhome For Lease in Desirable Katy Crossing, Georgetown, TX - Click Here

Acreage or Equestrian Communities

• Whitetail Estates
• Stone House Estates
• Gabriels Overlook
• 485 Acres, Leander ETJ
• 284 Acres, East of Austin
• 373 Acres, East of Austin
• 13 Acres in Kyle
• Georgetown Home on 5 Acres

 Automated Property Search: This website provides a great property search, but you still need to come back and search again and again to stay on top of the market. Now there's a better way. Sign up for the Automated Property Search and let the system run the searchs for you. No obligation, no cost, no spam. 

Subscribe to new: Residential Listings  or  Commercial Listing

  Capital Investment in Medical and BioTech Fields:  Are we witnessing the emergence of a new "Medical Triangle?" Click Here

Build Your Home on the North San Gabriel River

Stone House Estates features: Acreage lots, Ideal for Horses, River Frontage, Click Here 

The Fountians at Georgetown South - Professional Office Condos for sale or lease. Visit www.GeorgetownCommercial.com

Real Estate & Business News

• CNBC's Top States For Business 2010—And The Winner Is Texas
• Formula 1 Grand Prix coming to Austin
• Beware of Scammers
• Why Texas May Lead the Nation's Turnaround
• National Real Estate News
• Real Estate Videos For Your Location 
• Austin Real Estate Market Conditions
• Business Journal
• Texas Market Reports 
• Community Impact
• Hill Country News
• Austin American Statesman
• Texas A&M Real Estate Center
• Bob's Blog on Active Rain 
• Bob's Blog on Google
• Monthly Newsletter 

Sold 212 Las Colinas

Want to know your homes value? Click Here

Sedlor Properties: Georgetown TX Homes Commercial Real Estate, Georgetown TX Residential Real Estate, Sun City TX Homes, Austin Real Estate and Austin area Land and Lots, Surrounding areas:

This website was designed to be a comprehensive source of residential and commercial real estate and area information. Please explore and bookmark it, and visit it often. As always, your feedback and suggestions for ways to improve the content or layout is appreciated. Contact Information

Sold - Whitetail Subdivision

Facing Foreclosure - there may be a better way. Click Here

Link Exchange Partners