article thumbnail

Fighting Against Real Estate Fraud

The Residential Specialist

Agents must stay vigilant as fraud and scams become more prevalent in the residential real estate profession By Jason Henninger Anywhere there are financial transactions, the threat of fraud comes with them. She also personally experienced an attempt to pull a bait-and-switch with deposits.

article thumbnail

What Must Be Disclosed When Selling a House in Georgia?

HomeLight

According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, a material defect is anything that: Has a specific issue with a system or component of a residential property. Meaning, buyers are charged with performing due diligence during real estate transactions to ensure they’re buying a product they’re satisfied with.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Buying a Foreclosure at a Home Auction? Here’s How Much You’ll Probably Spend

HomeLight

In areas with a lot of residential demand, flippers or future landlords may crowd foreclosure auctions hoping to snag a deal — just like you. Constantine recommends you do your due diligence. One reason it’s so important to have a qualified, dependable real estate agent on your side is to help you with these due diligence tasks.

article thumbnail

Get Your Own Slice of the Big Apple: Buying a House in Manhattan

HomeLight

Hiring an attorney, which is a local convention in New York , eases the burden of buyer due diligence on an entire building’s amenities, including elevator updates and hot water service. Bounded on the east by Central Park , the Upper West Side is a primarily residential area and is quieter than some other neighborhoods.

article thumbnail

Eliminating Stringent Contingencies: How to Make a Contingent Offer Stronger

HomeLight

If you’re obtaining traditional financing, waiving the financing contingency can put your earnest money deposit at risk. Buyers have to be willing to move forward with their due diligence right away,” says Lagrois. So can a financing contingency be negotiable? Zoning and land use contingencies.

article thumbnail

How to Get Cash for Your Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

HomeLight

Although it’s not as sure of a bet, you could also attract a regular residential buyer who has enough liquid assets to buy a house outright. Beyond doing your due diligence online, it’s also a good idea to pick up the phone and put a voice to the business. Earnest money deposit. Put a voice to a name.

article thumbnail

131 Real Estate Terms & Definitions Your Clients Expect You to Know in 2023

The Close

Due diligence period. What if your clients are asking about their due diligence period? Earnest money deposit. Also known as a “good faith deposit,” it’s the amount of money a buyer puts in escrow to show their commitment to purchase a property. Related Article.