Saturday, December 8, 2007

How To Fill Out An 'Offer To Purchase' Real Estate Form

Before you can buy the house of your dreams, there's one very important document that you need to make and submit to a home seller. It is the offer to purchase real estate or purchase offer which usually serves as the sales contract between the buyer and the seller. Without this and the signature of both parties involved, the transaction cannot be considered legal.

A standard purchase offer form may be used in all states in the U.S. However, you can always make your own offer containing the special conditions appropriate to your needs. You just need to include all the required details to push through with the deal. It is truly essential that you fully understand the contents of a purchase offer before filling it out and submitting it to the home seller.

In making your offer to purchase the property, be sure to consider several vital factors like your financial capability, the condition of the home you want to buy and the prevailing market status. Your financial resources play an important role in determining how much down payment you can provide, what type of financing you will use and your ability to shoulder the closing costs.

Below are some of the basic information that you need to provide in a real estate purchase offer form.

Full names of the buyer and the seller. Of course, this has to be identified to make the agreement enforceable.

Address and legal description of the property. The price you are willing to pay for the house.

Terms of payment and the down payment amount. This specifies how you will finance the purchase of the property if it's through a mortgage loan or other options. It would also benefit the seller if you provide information as to your pre-approval or pre-qualification for a real estate mortgage loan. The amount and form of your earnest money deposit. This serves as a proof that you are serious in purchasing the property. It can either in be in the form of a check payable to a third party who is responsible for placing the amount in a trust account until the completion of the sale. The deposit can be credited in full towards the purchase price.

Expected date of transferring title and possession of the property.

Responsibilities of the seller in terms of a clear title transfer and deed type.

Information as to which personal properties are included in the sale. Time frame for acceptance of your offer. This stipulates the amount of time you are giving the seller to accept your purchase offer after which it will expire.

Provisions for a final home inspection before closing. Requirements that may be specific to your state or location are also included in the form. Special clauses or what are known as contingencies that need to be met to close the transaction are written above the signature block. These serve as protection for the buyer should problems arise along the way. Some of these contingencies include terms on who will pay the closing costs, the date the owner of the property should move out, the date of transferring title and possession, financing terms as well as home inspection.

As always, never fail to do your research to be able to achieve a smooth and successful transaction process.

No comments: