What are my rights and obligations as a seller under a Listing Agreement?

Without complications, attorneys fees relative to drafting a deed granting the property from one owner to another will cost roughly $500 - $750 in Massachusetts. Usually, these matters are relatively uncomplicated, however, at times they can be more complex. The attorney should take some time with you to understand the details of your situation so as to ensure that the deed is drafted according to your needs.

In Massachusetts it is advisable to have an attorney represent you in negotiating a Purchase and Sale Agreement. Purchasing a home is usually the most expensive item that a person buys in their lifetime. Regarding closing costs, they are driven mostly by your lender.

You have several alternatives. Did your original title policy insure against liens? If so, I can work with the title company to have the lien removed. Second, if the lien is old, it may have already expired and can be removed as a matter of law. Third, there are procedures in every state to remove a lien if the lienholder cannot be located. Finally, we may be able to have the title insurance company insure over the lien. Tom

Good morning. I am a WA State attorney, and I have reviewed numerous purchase and sale agreements (PSA), and have bought and sold numerous pieces of property in WA and CO. You are wise to ask this question. Since you are the buyer, normally your buyer's real estate agent would prepare the PSA for you to use, after discussing with you. Since you said a PSA "was presented to you" I"m wondering whether you are buying a new home from a building contractor. In any event, the purpose to an earnest money payment is to hold the home for you and let the seller know you are interested. In most cases, however, the seller can keep your whole earnest money payment if you back out of a purchase for reasons that are not protected in the PSA. For example, if you write your offer contingent on your subjective approval of an inspection report, or write your offer contingent on obtaining financing at terms you approve of, either one of these terms can get you out of the contract and also have your earnest money returned to you. There should be language in the PSA that clearly states what happens to the earnest money and how much earnest money you are providing. I hope that that is helpful. If you continue to have questions, I urge you to have an attorney review any and all documents, including those for loans, prior to signing anything.

A well-written purchase offer usually includes several ways for a buyer to back out of the purchase without any penalty - for example, if the buyer doesn't like the inspector's report, one can usually back out on that basis - another typical one is failing to obtain a loan. I hope your buyer's agent wrote up the offer in a way that gave you 2 or 3 "escape clauses" - you should talk with your agent, but if there are problems, I would recommend that you have a real estate attorney review your offer and help you get out of the offer - if possible - with minimal or no cost to you.