What are the key elements to include in a Property Sale Agreement?

Hello and thank you for the opportunity to respond to this very important question. First, an "as is" clause in a Property Sale Agreement shifts the risk to the buyer. The burden of due diligence is shifted to the buyer and the property is being sold in its current condition, with no warranties or representations about the property's condition. In this way, the seller's liability is limited, as the seller is generally not liable for defects, even hidden ones, that the buyer could have discovered through a reasonable inspection. However, the seller's limited liability does not apply if the seller actively conceals a defect. Also, in Ohio, when selling "as is", the seller still has a duty to disclose, and not fraudulently misrepresent, known material defects. Failing to do so can lead to breach of contract, fraud claims, rescission of sale, and potential damages. Ultimately, when property is sold "as is", the buyer is expected to conduct inspections and investigations and negotiate repair terms or price reductions. Further, selling "as is" may affect the ability to finance the sale and/or insure the property, depending on the condition of the property. It is also important to note that courts tend to scrutinize the exact wording of the "as is" clause, and a broad, well-drafted clause will offer stronger protection to the seller. Disclaimer: This response is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction for advice specific to your situation.

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.

Based on what you’ve described, once the option period has expired without the buyer exercising their right to purchase, the option agreement is generally no longer enforceable and you are free to market the property to other buyers. To protect yourself, review the exact language of the option agreement to confirm whether it provides for automatic termination upon expiration, and consider sending the buyer a written notice—ideally by both regular and certified mail—confirming that the option has lapsed and that you are releasing the property for sale to others. Please be advised that I provided this information for educational purposes, and no attorney client relationship has been formed.

Here are the steps you need to take to accomplish finding an attorney to assist you with this project: 1. Post the job you need to get accomplished – for example “ I am looking for a Florida attorney to advise me on what I can do with the original warranty deeds I have in my possession“ 2. Once posted, attorneys on the website that are interested and qualified will respond to your posting 3. Choose an attorney/s based upon their qualifications and cover letter to have a quick call so that you can decide who you would like to hire. 4. After talking with attorneys, choose who you will decide to proceed with. Remember to discuss the total cost of the project as well as how long it will take to be completed, and when payments will be made. 5. Once you have decided who to hire, click “HIRE” and that attorney will now be hired by you