Buy
Before you sign the offer, and again before you sign at closing
Most of what can go wrong in a purchase is written down somewhere in the papers: a deposit that becomes the seller's if you miss a date, an inspection window shorter than you thought, a title commitment that lists something nobody mentioned.
We read all of it with you. You'll know which dates matter, what you can ask the seller for, and what to do if the loan or the appraisal doesn't line up.
Reading the purchase contract and every addendum
The title commitment, line by line
The closing statement, checked against the contract
A lawyer beside you at the closing table
What the flat fee includes
The fee doesn't cover title insurance, recording fees, transfer taxes or lender charges. Others set those, and they appear on your closing statement.
The contract
Deposit terms, contingencies, the date by which each one ends and what each costs you if missed.
The title commitment
What the title company will insure, what it won’t, and what must be cleared before you close.
The closing statement
Every credit and charge checked against what you agreed, before you wire the money.
The closing table
We attend, answer questions as they come up, and review what you sign.
Questions from buyers
If yours isn’t here, call or write.
Should you read the contract before or after I make an offer?
Before, if you can. A short review of the form your agent will use costs less than renegotiating a term after the seller has accepted. After an offer is accepted, the clock on your deadlines has usually started, so send it at once.
What if the appraisal comes in below the price?
It depends on what your contract says about the loan and the appraisal. Some contracts let you cancel and recover the deposit, some let you renegotiate, and some leave you holding the gap. We tell you which one you have, and by what date you must choose.
Can you handle a purchase of vacant land or a condo?
Yes to both. A condo adds the association's documents to the stack, and land adds a survey and questions about access and utilities. The flat fee covers a house or condo. For land, we quote after we see the contract.
Have a contract to read?
Send it by email or through the form and tell us the date your inspection period ends.