Real estate contracts
Real Estate Agents: What You Need to Know to Avoid Litigation
Because we live in a litigious society, if you are a real estate agent or broker there is always the threat of litigation hanging over your head. Working on a daily basis with contract and legal consequences, we all need to keep vigilant to protect ourselves. If you are named in a lawsuit or go…
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Lawsuits On the Rise Against Real Estate Agents
When the real estate market heats up, so do the number of lawsuits against real estate agents and their brokers. Many buyers and sellers of real estate do not often pause to consider that they are involving themselves in a legal transaction, which can have severe consequences if not handled properly. Many agents, whether intentionally…
Read MoreReal Estate Agents Should Learn Better Paperwork Skills
For many real estate agents the paperwork involved in the sale of a home can be difficult, but it is also of utmost importance. Unfortunately a large percentage of agents lack either the knowledge or patience (or both perhaps ?) to properly handle this task, and this needs to be addressed in our industry. From…
Read MoreWhat is an Escalation Clause and Should You Use One?
Escalation clauses are becoming very popular again. Although controversial amongst those who work in the real estate field, they are not illegal nor prohibited. If you are a buyer or seller you should understand what they are and how they work…they could be a blessing or they could cost you in a big way. An…
Read MoreBacking out of a Real Estate Contract: Buyer’s Rights
Real estate contracts in most states are and have always been pro-buyer, especially here in California. Buyers usually have a contingency period, in which they can complete home inspections, get their loan approved and any other things that are important before contingencies must be removed and they risk losing their initial deposit. What most people…
Read MoreAre Home Contract Cancellations on the Rise?
I love to read Kenneth Harney columns. He is one of my favorite writers on the real estate market, and always poses poignant questions as he delves deep into real estate-related issues (some that the average journalist won’t tackle). Today he had a new column out discussing the “case of the walking homebuyers.” Apparently the…
Read MoreReal Estate Contract Law Basics for the Homebuyer
Many people who purchase real estate have little understanding of the way the law effects your purchase, yet it is important to learn because your purchase is a legal transaction. In California, according to the Statute of Frauds all contracts for the sale of real property must be in writing to be legally enforceable. When…
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