Real Estate Transactions

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but mortgage approval involves much more than finding the right property. Lenders carefully evaluate your financial situation before deciding whether to approve a loan application. Understanding the factors that influence...

If you contact a mortgage lender about getting a loan for a new house, they may have you submit an application, including making financial disclosures. You will then get a preapproval letter. One important thing to note is that this preapproval is starkly different...

Real estate transactions can involve significant amounts of money. The average cost of a Massachusetts home is currently over a half-million dollars.  This kind of money unfortunately can attract scammers and others who engage in fraud. According to the FBI, almost...

A person who’s purchasing a home may encounter the need to put an earnest money deposit down as a way to show the seller that they seriously intend to purchase the property. This is typically placed into a dedicated escrow account shortly after the offer on the home...

In many cases, new homeowners will take possession of a home on the same day that they close. They will meet with the sellers and the title company for closing, perhaps along with their legal representation. All of the documentation will be signed, certain fees will...

Once a buyer’s offer to purchase a property is accepted, they will sign a Purchase and Sale (P&S) agreement. This will then be followed by a title search - a thorough examination into the property to obtain crucial information. Below are two important details a...

Making an offer on real property is a formal process. Once buyers make an offer, they may have an obligation to follow through with the transaction should the seller accept their offer. Choosing how much to offer for each property is important for buyer protection....

Closing day marks the finish line for your home sale, but it can still test your patience if last-minute issues appear. Even when you follow every step, a few common surprises may still stall the process. Here’s what causes those delays and how you can prevent them....

Contingency clauses in your home purchase agreement are meant to protect you as a buyer. They give you the right to back out or renegotiate the deal if key conditions aren’t met, such as securing financing, getting a clean inspection or meeting appraisal requirements....

There are many important steps required to complete a real estate transaction between a seller accepting an offer and closing. Many of those steps exist for the protection of mortgage lenders. It is common practice for banks and other lenders to require inspections...