Kristi Newcomb

Buyers have the chance to inspect the property prior to closing final walk through If the HVAC airheat system was working or wasnaEURTMt flagged and the sale closed then the responsibility typically transfers to the buyer Once youaEURTMve signed the documents funded and picked up the keys the home and all its systems becomes yours Unless there was fraud misrepresentation or concealment by the seller like knowingly covering up that the unit didnaEURTMt work the cost to repair or replace usually falls on the buyer Unless the buyer unless you can prove the seller knowingly hid the defect

The legality depends on the lease you signed and the laws in your state Generally if you have a fixed term lease for example 12 months the new owner must honor that lease until it expires They cannot evict you simply because they want to remodel or raise the rent before the lease ends If you are month to month the new owner can typically terminate your tenancy with proper written notice The required notice period varies by state but is often 30aEUR60 days If the new owner is trying to force you out without following proper notice or without legal grounds that may not be lawful Id review your lease agreement carefully and checking your stateaEURTMs landlord tenant laws If you feel your rights are being violated you may want to contact a local tenant rights organization or attorney for guidance

A private listing can sometimes make sense if youaEURTMre just wanting to quietly test interest but there are trade offs By limiting exposure youaEURTMre naturally limiting the number of buyers who see the property Less competition often means less leverage Global exposure may potentially bring more interest and may generate a multiple offer scenario The homes that achieve top dollar are almost always the ones marketed broadly with professional photos video and strong online presence In Houston we also have the option to list your home under the MLS aEUR Coming SoonaEURTM feature ItaEURTMs a great way to gauge buyer interest before officially going live and accumulating days on market

Earnest money in Texas is a deposit made in good faith to show the buyeraEURTMs serious intent to purchase Think of it as money held in trust while the contract is active The title company holds the earnest money in escrow At closing if the deal goes through that deposit is applied toward the buyeraEURTMs closing costs andor down payment So yes the buyer gets the benefit of it back itaEURTMs credited not lost If the deal doesnaEURTMt close whether the buyer gets the earnest money refunded depends on the contract terms and timelines For example if they terminate properly within the option period the earnest money is usually refunded If they default without a contractual right to terminate the seller may be entitled to keep itBecause situations can vary the contract and Texas law control what happens to the earnest money in each case The title company will only release it when both parties agree in writing or a legal determination is made

In Texas there isnaEURTMt a legal definition that dictates how big a closet must be or that it has to have doors For real estate and appraisal purposes a aEURoeclosetaEUR is generally recognized as a built in storage space in a bedroom usually with hanging rods andor shelves Weve had sellers purchase a wardrobe closet attached it to the wall and the appraisers have counted it as a true closet Appraisers have discretion and what one may count another might not In Texas the general expectation is that a closet is a built in permanent storage space within the bedroom usually with room for hanging clothes So in Houston the closet doesnaEURTMt have to meet a specific size or door requirement by law but built in storage with a rod and doors is what buyers and appraisers typically expect