| When you finally decide to make an offer on a | | | | Look over the offer to purchase form and make |
| home, it should be an exciting rather than a | | | | sure that it is done according to your most pressing |
| nerve-wracking experience. In the case of first time | | | | needs and conditions. Request the necessary |
| home buyers, this is one of the most serious steps | | | | information about the property such as the exact |
| that you are going to take on your way to becoming | | | | address and description. This is where you will make |
| a homeowner. However, the way is perilous if you | | | | your deposit, but try to make the amount as small |
| do not take steps to protect yourself when you | | | | as possible since you might lose some or all of it. |
| make your offer. | | | | However, do not make the deposit so small that the |
| Something to keep in mind is that you should always | | | | seller will think you are not serious about the |
| protect yourself and your cash deposit by placing | | | | purchase. |
| conditions in the offer to purchase that you are going | | | | There is a section on the offer that will include |
| to submit to the seller. Things that you might think | | | | conditions of sale or contingencies. This is where you |
| about getting included in the offer are phrases such | | | | want to be sure that all of the conditions or |
| as conditioned upon being able to obtain financing and | | | | contingencies include either subject to or conditioned |
| conditioned upon home inspection. It is essential to | | | | upon, or any variation thereof in case there are |
| include terms that are going to protect you because | | | | issues with the property, the title, easements, zoning, |
| you are likely to lose your cash deposit if the sale | | | | or your finances. |
| should fall through. | | | | Always think about things that are important and |
| Most real estate agencies use standard offer to | | | | serious to you during the offer process. If you have |
| purchase forms. If you read the form carefully, which | | | | a competent and professional real estate agent, he |
| you should always do with any legal form, you will | | | | she will be invaluable at this stage because he/she will |
| find a phrase stating that the seller may retain all or a | | | | be the one who will provide you the guidance you |
| portion of the earnest money deposited herewith as | | | | need. |
| liquidated damages if the Purchaser(s) refuse(s), or | | | | You can always go to a lawyer specializing in real |
| otherwise fail(s) to perform according to this Sale | | | | estate to make sure that everything was done |
| Contract, or some variation thereof. | | | | according to relevant law and the legal statutes in |
| On the other hand, you do not want to make your | | | | your municipality, county and/or state. Once you find |
| list of conditions too long or put things in it that are | | | | that things are acceptable to you and that they |
| not really important. If you do, you will be risking the | | | | include the things that are most important as far as |
| purchase because the seller might not take interest in | | | | you are concerned, make your offer and see if it is |
| your offer and look for one with less onerous or not | | | | accepted. |
| so many conditions. | | | | |