Is buying a home straight from

Question

The owner more easy than going through a realtor?

Answer 1

Absolutely not.

There is so much involved, legally and finacially in buying a home. Inexperienced seller's and buyer's have a very high likelyhood of running into complications or loss of sale due to not knowing the ins and outs of real estate.

Always use a realtor if you or the seller is not educated in the home buying/seller procedures.

Answer 2

I thought going through the realtor was easier. They set up the inspections and surveys on the property. They made sure all the paper work was done correctly. The realtor will work for YOU as long as you don't pick the same realtor as the seller. The seller pays them so it is no cost to you. Some owners selling their own homes won't disclose everything. If they have a realtor then they have to sign a statement saying what is included or broken ect.

Answer 3

If you are asking that question here than I would recommend professional help, either an Attorney or Realtor.  A Realtor would also be able to give you valuable info on pricing and contingencies.  

You are talking about alot of money for a long time, how much of a risk are you willing to take buy going it alone and uniformed?

Add:  You have to be careful.  Buying real estate is not rocket science, but there is alot of room for errors and fraud.

Answer 4

If you are knowledgeable and experienced, it can be a very beneficial way of buying real estate. Not only can you find great deals, but you can also save yourself and the seller thousands in commissions.

It also allows you a lot more flexibility in how you can structure the deal. You can make offers to buy with owner financing, assuming the loan, as a purchase option, etc. These are deals that a realtor may be resistant to.

Answer 5

NO! When buying a home without a real estate professional you risk losing professional advice that could be very helpful to you. You are also guaranteed to have a someone on your side and protecting your interests. There are horror stories about people buying for sale by owner's out there, please don't turn into one. Also, in today's shaky mortgage market, a Realtor can help you find the best possible financing for your needs. Remember, not all real estate salespeople are Realtors, only those that belong to the NAR. If you need help, send me a message.  

Answer 6

Well it can be.  At least with the owner you can expect to get the truth about a house and the history of repairs etc...Sometimes with a realtor it is hard to find out the history of a house (only because they have no way of knowing certain things esp if it is a forclosure etc..) Then again realtors know what a house is worth and have good guidance in negotiatins etc... Pluses and minuses to both.  Hope this helps.  

Answer 7

Not necessarily.  You'd better use a real estate lawyer if you do so.

Answer 8

Every day I come in here, I see questions about For Sale By Owner gone wrong and someone needs suggestions on how to fix it.

You are not going to get more information from an owner if you deal directly with the owner, a Realtor will require seller's disclosures to be filled out stating what is known to be wrong with the property.  In my area, this disclosure is 4 pages long.  

Sure you can save commissions, but if you are not experienced with buying and selling real estate, you can also put yourself in a position to not purchase a good property, receive a good deal or for potential litigation.

Since this is such an important purchase, it may be in your best interest to have a professional representing your interests.