According to CNN.com, these are the six of the biggest mistakes made by homebuyers:
1) Not knowing your credit score
2) Buying a car before a house
3) Skimping on home inspections
4) NOT HIRING A LAWYER
5) Signing a contract with no contingencies (hiring a lawyer before you sign the contract will solve this problem)
6) Not budgeting for insurance
See the whole story at http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1004/gallery.Costly_homebuying_mistakes/index.html
Most people know that they need a lawyer to represent them when they are selling their home, but buyers also need representation. The relatively small fee the lawyer charges could save a buyer thousands of dollars and headaches.
If you are trying to buy or sell property, contact our office. Our office phone number is 312-238-9298.
Please note this is intended to give general information to the public. Although the information is generally accurate, it cannot be guaranteed and this information should not be construed as legal advice upon which a reader can rely. In all cases, please consult a lawyer before acting. This is intended to be advertising, and not solicitation, or legal advice.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Closing Costs for Sellers
Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C. - Experienced in Real Estate and Landlord Tenant Law
What kind of closing costs can I expect when I am selling my home?
First, let me clarify that I consider realtor commissions, taxes, title related fees, etc all to be "closing costs." Others may only call title-related fees "closing costs."
For Sellers, the largest closing cost tends to be the Realtor commission. This commission is typically between 4 and 6% of the sale price. The next largest cost is real estate property taxes. In Cook County, we pay property taxes in arrears - which means that in 2010, we are paying the 2009 property taxes. So when you sell your home, you must give a property tax credit to the Buyer for the time you spent in your home in the current year. This property tax credit can be negotiated and a formula is used to calculate the actual amount. The remaining costs include title related fees, city, county and state taxes.
Overall, Sellers can typically expect to pay around 8% of the sales price in total closing costs. This includes the Realtor commissions, taxes and title related fees. For example, on a $200,000 home, the Seller can expect to pay around $16,000 in total closing costs. Again, each transaction is different, and if no Realtors are involved, the closing costs will be much lower - because there will be no commissions to pay.
If you are trying to sell your home, contact our office immediately so we can begin working on the documents. Our office phone number is 312-238-9298.
Please note this is intended to give general information to the public. Although the information is generally accurate, it cannot be guaranteed and this information should not be construed as legal advice upon which a reader can rely. In all cases, please consult a lawyer before acting. This is intended to be advertising, and not solicitation, or legal advice.
What kind of closing costs can I expect when I am selling my home?
First, let me clarify that I consider realtor commissions, taxes, title related fees, etc all to be "closing costs." Others may only call title-related fees "closing costs."
For Sellers, the largest closing cost tends to be the Realtor commission. This commission is typically between 4 and 6% of the sale price. The next largest cost is real estate property taxes. In Cook County, we pay property taxes in arrears - which means that in 2010, we are paying the 2009 property taxes. So when you sell your home, you must give a property tax credit to the Buyer for the time you spent in your home in the current year. This property tax credit can be negotiated and a formula is used to calculate the actual amount. The remaining costs include title related fees, city, county and state taxes.
Overall, Sellers can typically expect to pay around 8% of the sales price in total closing costs. This includes the Realtor commissions, taxes and title related fees. For example, on a $200,000 home, the Seller can expect to pay around $16,000 in total closing costs. Again, each transaction is different, and if no Realtors are involved, the closing costs will be much lower - because there will be no commissions to pay.
If you are trying to sell your home, contact our office immediately so we can begin working on the documents. Our office phone number is 312-238-9298.
Please note this is intended to give general information to the public. Although the information is generally accurate, it cannot be guaranteed and this information should not be construed as legal advice upon which a reader can rely. In all cases, please consult a lawyer before acting. This is intended to be advertising, and not solicitation, or legal advice.
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