How To Make A Real Estate Offer
October 28th, 2009
Make an Offer in Writing
This is the time to think carefully about what you want and what you can afford. If your offer is accepted, it becomes a legally binding contract. Make sure you don’t include anything in the offer that you’re not totally comfortable with doing.
Make sure you put everything in writing. Offers usually include items like:
- Proposed purchase price
Remember, the seller may counter-offer with a higher purchase price – consider that when you decide on your proposed purchase price. - Concessions
This includes things you’d like the seller to help pay for, like closing costs. - Conveyances
This covers any personal property to be included in the sale, like the washer and dryer or the refrigerator. - Home inspection contingencies
Make sure you’re prepared if the home inspection report shows major problems. Know what you will ask the seller to fix prior to buying the home and what you will ask a reduction in price for to account for the cost of repairs that you will do yourself. - Earnest money
Earnest money is a deposit you offer to show you’re serious about purchasing the house. Earnest money is usually held in escrow and applied to your closing costs at settlement. If you fail to meet the terms of your contract, you may lose this deposit. - Acceptance
This covers how long the seller has to respond to your offer before the offer is no longer binding. - Mediation and arbitration
These are legal methods for handling contract disagreements between you and the property seller. These methods are not necessarily beneficial to you, and you do not need to agree to them.
When the Offer Becomes a Contract
Once the seller accepts your offer, the offer becomes a contract. What’s in a contract varies from state to state, depends on the state where the house resides, but some common things you’ll find include:
- Legal description
This describes the property you are buying in terms of its dimensions relative to a fixed point (like a road) or in relation to a recorded subdivision plat or declaration of condominium. It often includes the street address of the property. - Selling price and deposit
This is the price you and the buyer agreed upon, as well as the amount of earnest money you’ll pay when you sign the contract. - Mortgage contingency
A contingency protects you by stating that the sale depends on a lender approving you for a specific San Diego Ca mortgage, rate, and term. - Closing date and location
The closing date (also called the settlement) can be several weeks to several months away to meet the seller’s and your needs. - Conveyances
Double check these conveyances to make sure that the items are there and are what you and the seller agreed on in the offer. - Home inspection
If you’ve made the contract contingent on a home inspection, this will set an inspection date and provide an explanation of what will happen if the inspection identifies any problems. - Possession date
This is the date you can move in. It’s usually the closing day or very soon after it. - Property insurance
This details the home insurance policy that will cover the property until the closing date. This can be the buyer’s or seller’s policy. - Property disclosures
This includes legal notification of any required information concerning the property. For example, it could contain copies of the documents from the homeowners’ association. This section would also outline any problems with the property that must be disclosed. - Source Freddie Mac
