Home Sale Law in Florida
Buying or selling a home is one of the most important decisions that most people make in their lifetime. It also involves some very complex legal and financial issues.
Because of the complexity of these issues, most persons in West Palm Beach, Florida don't opt to sell real estate themselves, even though there are no laws barring them from doing so.
Accordingly, many people decide to go through a real estate broker when they're buying or selling a house. A real estate broker is a professional who serves as an intermediary between buyers and sellers. They can make the process much easier, helping deal with the tedious details and formalities.
In West Palm Beach, Florida, real estate brokers are normally compensated with a percentage of the home's sale price.
Getting a Mortgage in West Palm Beach, Florida
If the buyer asks a direct question concerning the physical condition of the property, the seller must answer it truthfully. Misrepresenting a material fact in a real estate transaction is a very serious form of fraud, and could give rise to significant damages against the seller.
There are some defects which should be disclosed whether asked or not. Any defect which the seller is aware of, and the buyer can't be reasonably expected to discover before buying the house, must be disclosed.
Of course, buyers are also expected to conduct due diligence. In a lawsuit for nondisclosure, courts won't reward a lack of diligence.
Usually, buyers have a duty to conduct a reasonable inspection of the property before buying it. Therefore, buyers typically can't recover for defects that could have been discovered via reasonable inspection, unless the seller actively conceals them.
Can a West Palm Beach, Florida Real Estate Attorney help?
If you are buying a home in West Palm Beach, Florida, there are probably things you want to focus on other than paperwork and required inspections, such as the process of moving in, checking out schools, etc. A knowledgeable real estate attorney can make it much easier to focus on the aspects of home ownership that matter to you.