how to draw up a contract for property sale without a lawyer or realtor

by Mrs. Ofelia Cole 8 min read

  1. Apply For A Mortgage. When you buy a home, especially without a real estate agent, the first thing you’ll need to do is get preapproved.
  2. Research The Neighborhood. Look into the area you’re considering. ...
  3. Find A Property. ...
  4. Ask For A Seller’s Disclosure. ...
  5. Make An Offer. ...
  6. Hire A Lawyer And Home Inspector. ...
  7. Negotiate. ...
  8. Finalize Home Financing And Closing. ...

Full Answer

Can a real estate attorney draw up a purchase agreement?

Jan 01, 2022 · If you do not have a real estate agent and are selling your own home, you may be able to find a free printable real estate purchase agreement pdf online. It is advisable to seek legal counsel when it comes to a purchase agreement or sales agreement, as these legally binding contracts need to be accurate to avoid any misunderstandings or conflicts.

Who writes the contract when buying a house without a realtor?

Risks of entering into a real estate purchase agreement without a realtor include: Signing a fraudulent deal due to insufficient knowledge (applicable to both the buyer and seller) Selling the property for a lower price than it’s valued or not being able to market your home properly as the seller. Paying more than the property is worth as the ...

How do I get a real estate contract when buying a house?

Jul 27, 2017 · Usually, people selling their homes without a realtor go to a lawyer to draw up this contract. Bill of Sale The last document signed at a home closing transfers ownership from the seller to the buyer. This bill of sale states the down payment amount, loan terms and closing costs. Both the buyer and the seller sign the bill of sale. References

Who draws up the purchase agreement for a home that is for sale?

Oct 28, 2021 · A purchase agreement is a contract that outlines the conditions of the sale of a home. Once the buyer and seller have agreed to these conditions and apply their signature, this document becomes legally binding. A purchase agreement covers different topics such as home financing, repairs, closing details, and the final date the buyer can take ...

How do I draw up a house contract?

How to write a real estate purchase agreement.Identify the address of the property being purchased, including all required legal descriptions.Identify the names and addresses of both the buyer and the seller.Detail the price of the property and the terms of the purchase.Set the closing date and closing costs.More items...

Who draws up the contract?

Typically, the buyer's agent writes up the purchase agreement. However, unless they are legally licensed to practice law, real estate agents generally can't create their own legal contracts. Instead, firms will often use standardized form contracts that allow agents to fill in the blanks with the specifics of the sale.Oct 12, 2021

Who signs a house sale contract first?

Both buyer and seller sign identical contracts. Read your contract carefully to ensure that it incorporates any alterations, such as a price change or a list of any contents of the property that you may have agreed to buy from the seller.Mar 7, 2018

How do you write up a contract of payments?

The payment agreement should include:Creditor's Name and Address;Debtor's Name and Address;Acknowledgment of the Balance Owed;Amount Owed;Interest Rate (if any);Repayment Period;Payment Instructions;Late Payment (if any); and.More items...

What to do when selling a house without a real estate agent?

If you manage to get through all the steps of selling your home without the help of a real estate agent, make sure that when it comes to closing, you have legal representation. Closing is a legal affair and should be handled by either a closing attorney or a title agent.

What documents are needed to sell a home?

Below is a comprehensive list of all the documents you will need to sell your own home (may vary by state): 1 Original Sales Contract 2 Professional Appraisal 3 Records of home repair and maintenance 4 Payoff amount for your mortgage (mortgage statement) 5 Insurance Records 6 Receipts from any improvements 7 HOA documents (if applicable) 8 Warranties and manuals 9 Preliminary Title Report 10 Mandatory Disclosures 11 Pre-Inspection Report 12 Comparative Market Analysis 13 Listing Agreement 14 Seller’s Net Sheet 15 Purchase offer 16 Final purchase and sales agreement 17 Contingency removal form 18 Home Inspection Report 19 Appraisal Report 20 Closing Statement 21 Deed 22 Tax Forms

What does it mean to have an agent on your house?

With an agent, your house will be put on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Plus, agents provide access to an extensive network. If you don’t have this advantage, you may need to put some thought and effort into how you make your property visible to potential buyers.

Is a deed a legal document?

The same is true for any other paperwork that is a legal contract, such as the deed. Since the deed is a physical, legal document that transfers title or ownership of the home, it may be best to consult a lawyer if you have any questions regarding the legal aspects of the sale of your home.

Is it hard to sell a house?

As with anything, there is a downside to selling your home on your own. It’s likely to be a much more difficult task than you may think.

The Basics of a Purchase Agreement

Before deciding whether to enter into a purchase agreement without a realtor, you should know what a purchase agreement is.

Why Do People Hire Realtors?

There is a lot of property-related information that buyers and sellers need to understand. Since a regular person can’t possess the market knowledge or the negotiating skills an experienced realtor can, working with an agent is usually the default.

Benefits and Risks of Choosing a Purchase Agreement Without a Realtor

Since sellers pay for both parties’ realtors, they are the ones who save cash when no one hires a real estate agent. A seller needs to pay around 3% of their home’s purchase price for a realtor. If both parties are working with agents, that is 6% of the market value of the home in question.

Tips for Selling a Home Without a Realtor

As opposed to buyers, sellers can save up to thousands of dollars if they don’t hire a realtor.

Generate Legal Documents With DoNotPay

Selling and buying property may require you to deal with many more contracts than just a purchase agreement. Relying on contract templates you find online or the free blank purchase agreement forms isn’t advisable. You’ll lose much time editing the templates and filling in the blanks to make the document fit your case.

What Contracts Can You Make With DoNotPay?

Make a DoNotPay account today and generate these legal documents in under a few minutes:

What is a sales contract?

The sales contract provides all the terms of the sale. It outlines exactly what the buyer is paying for and the responsibilities of each party. For example, it outlines what stays in the home and what leaves, such as curtains and patio swings, and provides a move out date. Usually, people selling their homes without a realtor go to a lawyer to draw up this contract.

What is the last document signed at a home closing?

The last document signed at a home closing transfers ownership from the seller to the buyer . This bill of sale states the down payment amount, loan terms and closing costs. Both the buyer and the seller sign the bill of sale.

Do you need a termite inspection before selling a house?

Some states require seller-paid inspections before selling a house in which sellers must provide proof of professional inspection to the buyer. For example, some states require a free and clear termite inspection before selling. Other states have no inspection requirements, but leave the option of inspection open for potential buyers.

Do you need a preapproval letter for a home sale?

Although not required for a home sale, sellers often require loan preapproval letters from potential buyers. This, along with a copy of the buyer’s credit report, helps sellers assess buyer finances. An offer placed by someone without buying power means nothing.

What is a purchase agreement?

A purchase agreement is a contract that outlines the conditions of the sale of a home. Once the buyer and seller have agreed to these conditions and apply their signature, this document becomes legally binding.

What happens if you can't get financing?

So, if the buyer can’t get financing at a certain interest rate by a certain date, then they can back out of the sale without penalty. The most common type of contingency has to do with the home inspection, where the buyer has an opportunity to discover any defects.

What is a contract of sale?

The contract of sale or home-purchase agreement includes a number of significant details. A real estate attorney or broker can draw up the sales agreement. The purchase agreement is a legally binding contract that commits both the seller and buyer to certain obligations; therefore, there are basic guidelines you should follow if you type up ...

Can a closing date be extended?

Sometimes the closing date gets extended if a mortgage lender or title company gets backed up. The seller usually gets to select a location for closing and relinquishes possession of the property to the buyer at closing.

How long does it take to close a real estate transaction?

Closing. After you sign a contract in which you agree to a real estate transaction, you normally have to wait a few weeks for the lender to appraise the property and complete the loan underwriting process. On the day of the loan closing, you sign the actual sale documents.

Can you sue a real estate agent?

Legal issues can arise after you complete a real estate transaction and, in some states, you have the right to sue your real estate agent, the seller or even the home inspector if problems emerge with the home after the completion of the sale. If the real estate attorney facilitated the sale, then the attorney already has prior knowledge of the sale, which makes any litigation much easier to complete. While many real estate transactions move smoothly without the involvement of an attorney, people involved in sales that go awry often end up wishing that they hired an attorney.

Do real estate agents have lawyers?

However, real estate laws vary from state to state and most real estate agents are not practicing lawyers. While real estate agents have a broad knowledge of real estate transactions, an opinion based on prior real estate experience and state law are two entirely different things.

How to write an offer letter for a house?

After deciding how much to offer, you can write an official offer letter. Here’s what the letter should include: 1 The full address of the home 2 Your full legal name and the name (s) of anyone else buying the home with you 3 The amount you’re offering for the home 4 Any contingencies you’re requesting (i.e., conditions that need to be completed before the sale goes through – most common is a successful home inspection) 5 Any seller concessions you’re requesting, such as discount points or cash toward closing 6 A copy of your mortgage preapproval letter 7 Items you want to be included in the sale, such as appliances or window dressings 8 The date you expect to close 9 The date you want to move into the home 10 A deadline to respond to your offer

What do real estate agents know?

Real estate agents have access to real estate property listings, so they know which homes are on the market and what features they have. Great real estate agents are very familiar with their local markets.

What is Rocket Mortgage?

The Rocket Mortgage Learning Center is dedicated to bringing you articles on home buying, loan types, mortgage basics and refinancing. We also offer calculators to determine home affordability, home equity, monthly mortgage payments and the benefit of refinancing. No matter where you are in the home buying and financing process, Rocket Mortgage has the articles and resources you can rely on.

When do you have to close on a loan?

When you reach an agreement with the seller, it’s time to close on the loan. As soon as the appraisal and underwriting are cleared, your lender will send you a Closing Disclosure.

What does it mean to buy a home?

Buying a home means working with a lot of third-party experts. A real estate agent can direct you to quality professionals, such as contractors and home inspectors, that will make the buying process easier.

What to include in an online listing?

Online listings typically include either the owner’s or the agent’s phone number, or a list of upcoming open houses. If there are no open houses scheduled, contact the agent to request a tour. As you look around the home, take note of the property’s condition. Find out exactly what’s included in the sale.

Do you need an inspection for a mortgage?

Inspections aren’t usually required by your mortgage lender, but they can reveal hidden issues that the seller might not know about. A typical home inspection covers surface-level elements of the home, including its plumbing, structure, heating system and more.