EDIT: SOLVED

I want to put an offer on a for-sale-by-owner place, and they will NOT pay for a realtor to be involved. I can't afford the house if *I* pay the realtor commission! GAH!

The wording is SO important when you make an offer on a house, but I'm at a loss. I've been doing research, but I'm so afraid I'm going to miss something! *insert image of biting nails*

If anyone can direct me to a website with the information I need (or something!) I would be MOST grateful!

As a thank you, whomever gives me the most helpful information can pick any game from My Trade List which is not marked as being TAKEN.

Please, please, and thank you in advance!

EDIT: SOLVED

That's a pricey item to go after without an agent, but it can be done. Just be sure you have everything else covered. A real estate attorney is going to be a must for you in this situation, and often they are required even when making a purchase with an agent. This article gives you some good info on where to begin the process. You'll want to involve an appraiser and an inspector as well before committing yourself too far along. Do not just use whomever the seller provides or recommends. You want people who are on your side in this.

Above all don't act in haste, and don't let them pressure you on any point. When someone is unwilling to allow you time or resources to make an informed decision, it's because it's not in their interest for you to be informed.

Thank you, IAMSinistar. I'm being careful, and I am going to get the most thorough home inspector that I can find to do the pest and dry rot inspection. The appraiser is required by the bank, and THEY appoint the person who will do this. All but one of the lawyers I called didn't sound interested in helping (you should just go through a realtor!) and the last guy thought it would be more cost-effective to to with a realtor. Nice guy, I liked him :D

I'll check out the link you gave, and thank you very much!

By the way, is there a way to change the topic to a question format so that I can mark it as "Solved"?

I'm going to have to go with Sinistar on this one. In the end a realtor might be the cheapest route than the lawyer. I have only been involved in one home purchase and that was enough for me. I think five years from now we'll have to sell/buy our next home. I'm so not looking forward to that process. But yes, definitely, get that home inspected! Not sure if you live in the humid or driest part of the US but definitely don't want to get saddled with a money pit when you don't have to. Arrrgh. I feel for you!

EDIT, once the topic is created, don't think it can be changed unless maybe Judas or support got involved....

Glad if it helped, genkicolleen, and please let us know how the process continues. Best of luck!

Oh, and I think we've chatted enough to where you can call me by the more familiar Sinistar, if you like. :)

Maybe get some advice from the attorney you will be using to register the property.

Man, I didn't even pick up on that :p

This. In the very least go to several local realtors, explain you've found a house and see if any have a fee for handling the offer paperwork (in other words, in lieu of a regular commission). You'll have to pay for this out of pocket but it's worth it. I think I'd stick with hiring a real estate attorney though. Go local, go experienced, ask people you know who have bought houses or ask town clerks who they deal with most frequently.

I would NOT print up some sort of generic offer sheet. When the inspection fails, back taxes are due, liens come up etc etc etc the internet is NOT going to show up in a courtroom to get you out of a poorly worded offer that has you on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars. *edit to add* Oooh I just read this. Getting your own realtor might be the best bet at this point then, especially if it's what the lawyer who didn't give you the brush off suggested.

The main site link I sent you has a packet of "official" documents you can buy for your state - might want to invest in that if you can't find an attorney to help you.

Also, you could hire an attorney to review them after you've bought and completed the docs - at least you'd have experienced eyes on the docs and they can point out any glaring issues. Also, call you banker and ask if there is low-cost/free advice available or if they can recommend someone. It is in their best interest not to have any issues with the legal documents...

Also, the title company (ask the banker who it is) should also be able to put you in contact with a real estate attorney - another resource/option.

Thank you all so much for your help -- I think that I have everything I need now~! :D

Momo, the information you sent me privately was the most helpful -- PM or IM me and let me know which game you want :D

Good luck with your purchase!

I agree it's good to be careful... but ultimately it really depends on the quality of the realator. I'm sure many of them just "phone in" generic contracts that are identical for every house they deal with and were obtained off some real estate website. We purchased our house with a real estate agent, but I can't say she was particularly helpful at protecting my interests. Do research on the internet and look into details of buying your own home without an agent. It's a good idea to request a third party home warranty be included with the purchase (so if something goes bad you're covered, and warranties can be extended near indefinitely to become more like insurance).

Introducing a real estate agency means that there's a profession who is looking out primarily for themself, not necessarily for your best interests. At one point we requested a pre-purchase repair and the paint they used didn't match, then the real estate agent told us that technically we never specified the paint should match. Another time we considered selling our house and I got the impression a different agent was low balling the value of the house for here benefit (quick comission). Also, if you are obtaining a mortgage consider looking into mortgage companies you prefer... we somehow ended up with one randomly (probably our agents friend) that I wasn't sure was so good... I wish I had been more involved in monitoring interest rates, etc instead of falling back on a half ass real estate agent to cover me. It's not that anything especially bad has happened, I just don't trust real estate agents.

+1s to Momo and Sinistar, good info!

I appreciate the offer but the advice is free ;-p

To be honest, if you can't afford the fee, I'd recommend just waiting for the next housing bust. Considering that the feds interfered with the correction, we're going to see another correction in the next 10 years.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what to do, but it's difficult to get reliable advice when you're not paying for it.

I somehow misread the topic title as "HELP! Raptors in the house!"

I may need sleep...