Advice Topic:
Finance & Legal Info
Ask An Agent
Get answers from licensed real estate agents on buying, selling, loans, appraisals, contracts, and market trends.
Post a QuestionFinance & Legal Info
157 questions found
Do we need a lawyer to buy land straight from our neighbor?
Were about to buy a small strip of vacant land next to our house straight from the neighbor whos owned it for years, and we want to skip hiring a realtor since its really just between us. Do we need a title company, a real estate attorney, or is there actually a way to do this without paying fees to either one?
Asked by Ronnie H. | Wichita, KS | 08-14-2026 | 60 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 2 months ago
Do I need a buyer's agent if I already found the house myself?
Ive been eyeing this one house for months and it actually has a VA assumable loan on it which is a big deal with rates where they are right now. I reached out to the sellers agent directly for info instead of going through my own realtor, and now Im wondering if I even need a buyers agent at this point since I found it myself. Could I just negotiate the deal on my own and bring in a real estate attorney instead to handle the contract side? Has anyone actually done it this way before? Just trying to figure out if skipping an agent here would actually save me anything.
Asked by Blake N. | Jackson, MS | 08-14-2026 | 74 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 2 months ago
Is it fair to ask for a lower fee when the listing agent barely did anything?
My wife found a commercial property herself while out driving and her own agent couldnt show it that day, so weve been doing everything through the listing agent ever since. Were ready to write an offer now and Im not totally sure if we should just go through him since all hes really done is show up and unlock the door while we handled the legal research ourselves. This would be a 375k cash offer with no lender involved. Is it reasonable to ask for a reduced commission, something like 1 to 2 percent, given how little work hes actually put in?
Asked by Cody H. | Missoula, MT | 08-12-2026 | 33 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 2 months ago
Is a tiny 3-owner condo association a red flag?
Im under contract on a condo thats part of a tiny 3 owner association with no monthly HOA fee, just a shared cost split whenever something like insurance or repairs comes up. My percentage of ownership is small enough that the other two could basically outvote me on anything, and Ive got a lawyer looking over the deed but Im still a little nervous. Is this kind of setup actually normal or should I be more worried than I am?
Asked by Michaela S. | Burlington, VT | 08-12-2026 | 32 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 2 months ago
Can I go around my realtor and warn the seller myself?
We agreed to buy a house IF we could walk away over structural issues, and our realtor swore that was covered. Turns out there was never an inspection contingency in the contract, she just never told us. Inspection came back with a caved in support wall and mold in the crawlspace, and now shes pressuring us to ask the seller for repairs instead of letting us back out like we thought we could. We think shes going to tell the sellers agent some made up story about why were backing out. Is it illegal for us to contact the seller directly and explain what actually happened?
Asked by Jordan T. | Naperville, IL | 08-11-2026 | 34 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 2 months ago
Online Real Estate Lawyer Assistance
I need an RE lawyer to review a section of my RF-201 Property Disclosure form regarding a utility easement. Any recommendations? Should be able to handle remote/phone/email.
Asked by Grady McLain | Decherd, TN | 08-07-2026 | 30 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 2 months ago
Can HOA call deck limited community property if they were unaware we own the land?
Bought townhome and deck is called limited community property. New legal land plat survey gives us 8' behind townhome which deck is included in that area. What rights does that give us? If Covenants are incorrect by definition, should the HOA be correcting the Covenants? Bigger issue is deck was built without permits and i collected the physical proof. I have a seperate contract for them to fix deck and grading because a back flowing into crawlspace causing flooding and mold. Why is so hard to find legal representation? I even have the receipt for their purchase and delivery date for the deck materials. A barcode tag was left on a deck board. I have emails and text for his attempts and implications to fix the deck, grade, and mold but 16 months later nothing. Thank you
Asked by natalie nelson | Green Mountain Falls, CO | 08-02-2026 | 42 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 3 months ago
Why is it often recommended to avoid opening new credit lines while under contract for a home?
We are currently in the middle of escrow on a townhouse and were considering financing some new furniture to have it delivered right after we move in. Our agent mentioned this might cause issues with our final loan approval, even though our income hasn't changed. We want to understand how the underwriting process views new debt during the period between the initial application and the actual closing day.
Asked by Jackson F | Dallas, TX | 07-23-2026 | 31 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 3 months ago
Should the house be spotless cleaned inside. My house doesn't have insulation in my house. It ihous
For a reference person to come to my house should my house be spotless. My mother is the landlord to my house. I have a small 3 bedroom house. With no insulation in my house it gets super hot in the summer, then in the winter it gets very cold in we use it is a wood house.
Asked by Brianna | 77511 | 07-09-2026 | 54 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 3 months ago
Property appraisal done too low what can I do
I am a co-owner of some real estate property with my husband, we are getting a divorce and have to divide the property. He had an appraiser that appraised the property for less than the county tax office did. What can I do
Asked by Donna Weddle | Cleveland, TX | 07-07-2026 | 83 Views | Finance & Legal Info | Updated 3 months ago
Related Blogs
Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026 Survey Data)
The average real estate commission is 5.84% of the home's sale price, split between a 3.01% listing agent commission and a 2.84% buyer's age… read more
Growing Your Rental Portfolio? Build These Systems First
Growing your rental portfolio? Learn the systems that can help you manage more properties, streamline operations and scale without the chaos… read more
How to Buy a Multigenerational Home That Actually Works for Your Family
Buying a multigenerational home? Learn what to look for beyond bedrooms, including privacy, accessibility, parking, layout, ADUs and future… read more
Contributing Real Estate Professionals
Zoltan Peresztegi
SellWithZoli
Keith Jean Pierre
REMAX First Realty
Juan Picos
JohnHart
Michael Atkinson
RE/MAX Real Estate Group
Loodmy Jacques
Keller Williams Reserve
Kevin Neely
Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners
Amanda Courtney
REP Realty Group
Jonathan Claudio
JohnHart
Alla Novytska
JohnHart Real Estate
Barrett Henry
RE/MAX Collective
Austin Moore
Austin Moore & Company Real Estate
Becky Groe
Coldwell Banker Realty, Colorado Springs