Home Sale Law in Pennsylvania
When you are about to buy or sell a home, there are several things that must be considered, not the least of which being the many legal and financial decisions you have to make.
While there are no laws in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania against persons buying or selling real estate on their own, this is rarely the ideal way to go, given the many legal issues surrounding the sale of property.
Therefore, 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 procedure much easier, helping deal with the tedious details and formalities.
Some Bethlehem, Pennsylvania real estate brokers charge a flat fee, but most take a relatively small percentage of the sale price of a house they assist a client sell.
Getting a Mortgage in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
First if all, if the buyer asks any question about the condition of the real estate, the seller is absolutely obligated to answer it truthfully. If the seller provides any false information about the condition of the property, and the buyer buys it and later finds out, they can sue the seller for any harm caused, and the diminution in the house's value.
Most considerable defects (those which have any effect on the value or safety of the home) should be disclosed even if the buyer doesn't ask about them. If the seller knows of a defect, and a reasonable buyer wouldn't be able to know it through a normal inspection, the seller must disclose it.
As a buyer, you should be aware that you have some commitments in this area, too. Buyers are expected to be diligent. Failure to do so might prevent the buyer from recovering in a lawsuit.
Typically, buyers have a duty to conduct a reasonable inspection of the property before buying it. Therefore, buyers normally can't recover for defects that could have been discovered via reasonable inspection, unless the seller actively conceals them.
Can a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Real Estate Attorney help?
Buying a house can be an exciting, but challenging, experience. Most home buyers want to focus on the positive aspects that come with home-ownership, and ignore the tedious paperwork and legal issues. A seasoned Bethlehem, Pennsylvania real estate attorney can enable this.