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Author: Monty

  • Five important home condition disclosure points

    Reader Question: I am concerned some important issues may be missed in inspections. In one condo development, for example, the ground in the heavy clay soil was not graded properly, and the internal construction had some major flaws. The selling agent at the condo explicitly stated he did not want to know about the issues.…

  • Home inspector pressured by a real estate agent

    Reader Question: I am a home inspector. ​I work with an agent who is always pressuring me to “take it easy” with the home inspection, I refuse to lower my standards, but I’m concerned about him finding a replacement. How would you suggest I approach ​t​his? ​Monty’s Answer: The situation you describe may be a…

  • What makes a condo warrantable vs. non-warrantable?

      Reader Question:  I am trying to learn what makes a condo warrantable vs. non-warrantable. Can you help me? Jonathan D. Monty’s Answer: The answer is that condominium, co-op and planned unit development (PUD) projects with particular attributes can be riskier than other types of development projects. The United States Department of Housing and Urban…

  • Seven tips when selling partial property interests

      Reader Question: I currently co-own a house with my two sisters. It was in our mother’s estate. One of the sisters wants to buy the two of us out which is fine with us, but we want to make sure the price she is offering is fair to us all. We had an appraisal…

  • Appraisers evaluate appraisal management companies

    Reader Question: Your recent article about why consumers cannot pick their appraiser was excellent, but only reviewed the process from the lender point of view. Residential appraisers hold a more educated viewpoint on appraisal management companies (AMC’s) than the lender as we do the work. My question is why didn’t you interview real estate appraisers?…

  • Right-of-first-refusal complicates negotiations

      Reader Question: My wife and I own a large tract of land. We want to sell off a one hundred acre parcel. We have a written offer-to-purchase that has been in negotiation for over ninety days. The buyer wants a “right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) should we sell off more land in the future. The offer contains…

  • Why can’t I pick my home appraiser?

    Reader Question: A lender is telling me I cannot pick my home appraiser I know to be a solid appraiser, and that the lending rules have changed. We have not purchased a home for fifteen years. Is this true? And if it is true, why did the rules change? Jerry G. Monty’s Answer: The simple answer…

  • Can a home seller have two prices?

    Reader Question: I showed a home to my client eight months ago. The price at that time was $1,200,000. The current price of the property is $624,900. The listing broker told me that because my client looked at the higher price, they still must pay the original price even though the price has dropped dramatically.…

  • Seven tips for buying in overheated market

    Reader Question: We live in an overheated market. Home sellers are receiving multiple offers very quickly after listing and sell for more than the list price. We want to buy a home here, but we are reluctant to jump in and end up overpaying. What, if anything, can we do to avoid this situation? John…

  • Ten facts mortgage shoppers should know

    Reader Question: How can I compare the cost of financing from different lenders? Monty’s Answer: Comparing the cost of mortgage loans is a challenge for most mortgage shoppers. Even when you think you have the answer, new information appears, and you are back to square one. Here are ten facts to help you lock-in the…

  • Bully real estate agent and RESPA

    Reader Question: My offer was accepted, and I was thrilled. Before making the offer, my agent had instructed me to obtain a pre-approval letter and recommended I use a particular loan officer. I went ahead and did so after confirming with the loan officer that doing so wouldn’t lock me into using his services. I…

  • Low appraisal not disclosed to homebuyer

    Reader Question: I had a low appraisal. I recently closed on a home for $180,000. I just learned the appraiser along with the agent and lender adjusted the appraisal from $176,000 to $179,000. They never informed me of the original price. Had I been informed, I could have negotiated for the $4,000. What can I do…

  • Tree trimming thorny issue between neighbors

    Reader Question: Our neighbor has a tree with branches that encroach on our property and pollutes our swimming pool. Our neighbor says we cannot touch their tree, as it will ruin its shape. Can we rid ourselves of this nuisance? Monty’s Answer: Many property owners see trees as a valuable resource that adds value to…

  • Multiple choices improve consumer experience

      Reader Question: Why do you recommend interviewing multiple people when choosing a real estate agent? Honestly, it seems unwieldy but I would like to understand the logic. Paul H. Monty’s Answer: Interviewing all service providers, not just real estate agents, is a practice that improves the consumer experience. It does take some time to…

  • I want out of the sales contract

    Reader Question: I want out of the sales contract I signed yesterday. Can I change my mind and decide not to sell? If I can do this, what liabilities would there be to me? Monty’s Answer: First know it is not uncommon for a seller to experience a malady called “sellers jitters.” Our most cherished memories…