Month: December 2015

  • Right-of-first-refusal complicates negotiations

      Reader Question: My wife and I own a large tract of land. We want to sell off a one hundred acre parcel. We have a written offer-to-purchase that has been in negotiation for over ninety days. The buyer wants a “right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) should we sell off more land in the future. The offer contains…

  • Why can’t I pick my home appraiser?

    Reader Question: A lender is telling me I cannot pick my home appraiser I know to be a solid appraiser, and that the lending rules have changed. We have not purchased a home for fifteen years. Is this true? And if it is true, why did the rules change? Jerry G. Monty’s Answer: The simple answer…

  • Can a home seller have two prices?

    Reader Question: I showed a home to my client eight months ago. The price at that time was $1,200,000. The current price of the property is $624,900. The listing broker told me that because my client looked at the higher price, they still must pay the original price even though the price has dropped dramatically.…

  • Seven tips for buying in overheated market

    Reader Question: We live in an overheated market. Home sellers are receiving multiple offers very quickly after listing and sell for more than the list price. We want to buy a home here, but we are reluctant to jump in and end up overpaying. What, if anything, can we do to avoid this situation? John…

  • Ten facts mortgage shoppers should know

    Reader Question: How can I compare the cost of financing from different lenders? Monty’s Answer: Comparing the cost of mortgage loans is a challenge for most mortgage shoppers. Even when you think you have the answer, new information appears, and you are back to square one. Here are ten facts to help you lock-in the…