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Buying a home, no agent involved. Advice needed.

18,304 38,677 June 29, 2015 at 09:48 PM in Chat
OT is fine ... so long as it makes me laugh.



Okay, so the seller called about the house we want and she made an offer. It's slightly more than we were willing to offer, but not grotesque. She said she will split the cost of whatever the title company charges to research the title and will also split the attorney's fees. She absolutely, positively refuses to use an agent. She said if we hire one, we have to pay 100% of her commission.

I told her we needed to talk it over, get some estimates from the title company and see what hiring an attorney will cost. I realize we have to pay for an appraisal and the inspection. Actually, at this point, do we even need an appraisal? Huh We had an appraisal done by a licensed realtor when we were there a few weeks ago. The owner wasn't happy with what the realtor said so she's decided to go with an appraisal she got last July because it's higher.

Have any of you ever bought a home without using an agent?

Can a real estate attorney handle everything?

Are RE attorneys cheaper than RE agents?

At what point in the purchase do you hire the attorney?

Even if we pay her asking price, she's taking a HUGE loss. MASSIVE! I realize that's not our problem but we do want to be kind. We know our original offer is above the appraisal we got but we want the house ... she needs to sell the house ... and we're not assholes.

Any advice to offer?
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Joined Feb 2010
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beanqueen
07-07-2015 at 10:36 AM.
07-07-2015 at 10:36 AM.
Quote from MsGal :

The next time I start thinking about getting a new puppy, I'm going to to post it here first. Roll
That's dangerous, we'll all tell you to get it so you can post adorable pics!!!
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fsyowad
07-07-2015 at 10:42 AM.
07-07-2015 at 10:42 AM.
Doesn't salt air corrode everything? Big Grin
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Joined Jul 2008
You can call me "Al"
> bubble2 18,304 Posts
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Original Poster
MsGal
07-07-2015 at 10:44 AM.
07-07-2015 at 10:44 AM.
Quote from beanqueen :
That's dangerous, we'll all tell you to get it so you can post adorable pics!!!
Damn, maybe that's where I went wrong. I should have posted lots of "adorable" pics of this house and THEN asked for advice. laugh out loud
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Joined Sep 2009
Gooooo Tigers!
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Curtieson
07-07-2015 at 12:28 PM.
07-07-2015 at 12:28 PM.
Quote from MsGal :
I promise you, I'm not being coy. I just don't see how disclosing the actual dollar amounts involved really matter.
Puts it all into context. You asked a bunch SDers if it was OK to over pay, I think you knew what answer was coming from most...but some of us aren't soooo price driven that we can't agree that emotional attachment carries some value. laugh out loud

Its the internet, people are going to judge you no matter what numbers you say LMAO You've been around here long enough you probably have most of those people on ignore though!
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Joined Jul 2008
You can call me "Al"
> bubble2 18,304 Posts
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Original Poster
MsGal
07-07-2015 at 12:39 PM.
07-07-2015 at 12:39 PM.
Quote from Curtieson :
Its the internet, people are going to judge you no matter what numbers you say LMAO You've been around here long enough you probably have most of those people on ignore though!

Yeah, I pretty much don't care. laugh out loud

And honestly, I don't have anyone on ignore. shake head But I bet a couple of folks over in the DS forum have ME on ignore. Stick Out Tongue
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Joined Jan 2004
Here's to the future
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Iaaaiws
07-07-2015 at 01:39 PM.
07-07-2015 at 01:39 PM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
She is lying, there's no way a water front property in that price range in Florida, regardless of which waterfront, is going to be only $400 per year for insurance.
Iagree It is probably $400/month laugh out loud
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> bubble2 18,304 Posts
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MsGal
07-07-2015 at 02:11 PM.
07-07-2015 at 02:11 PM.
Quote from Iaaaiws :
Iagree It is probably $400/month laugh out loud
Well ... she is almost 80 years old. (Or already 80-something.) laugh out loud
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Joined Jul 2003
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DC
07-07-2015 at 05:02 PM.
07-07-2015 at 05:02 PM.
Quote from Iaaaiws :
Iagree It is probably $400/month laugh out loud
Iagree
$4,800/year sounds more realistic.
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idkist
07-08-2015 at 07:53 AM.
07-08-2015 at 07:53 AM.
Quote from MsGal :
Well ... she is almost 80 years old. (Or already 80-something.) laugh out loud
Perfect, then she shouldn't be around much longer if you play your cards right. Like I said before send her a bacon explosion to hurry her passing and then score it on the cheap in an estate sale.
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tn_native
07-11-2015 at 07:26 AM.
07-11-2015 at 07:26 AM.
Quote from MsGal :
Well ... she is almost 80 years old. (Or already 80-something.) laugh out loud
So you are buying the house or not.

Don't leave us all hanging.
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MsGal
07-11-2015 at 12:03 PM.
07-11-2015 at 12:03 PM.
Quote from tn_native :
So you are buying the house or not.

Don't leave us all hanging.

Not sure. We can't get the inspection or new appraisal until the 20th. Frown
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beanqueen
07-13-2015 at 07:29 AM.
07-13-2015 at 07:29 AM.
Well that's just too long for us to wait...gosh don't they know you have an audience?
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Joined Jul 2008
You can call me "Al"
> bubble2 18,304 Posts
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MsGal
07-13-2015 at 09:54 AM.
07-13-2015 at 09:54 AM.
Quote from beanqueen :
Well that's just too long for us to wait...gosh don't they know you have an audience?
laugh out loud

I do have to call her this week with some other questions. I'll update if it's anything important. Stick Out Tongue
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DC
07-13-2015 at 10:56 AM.
07-13-2015 at 10:56 AM.
Quote from MsGal :
laugh out loud

I do have to call her this week with some other questions. I'll update if it's anything important. Stick Out Tongue
That's more like it! nod


hug
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Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
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Zoe Moon
07-13-2015 at 11:06 AM.
07-13-2015 at 11:06 AM.
Quote from MsGal :
laugh out loud

I do have to call her this week with some other questions. I'll update if it's anything important. Stick Out Tongue
With her reversing course on the 50/50 split of the closing costs, I would get everything in writing from her.
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