Home Sale Law in Washington

If you are in the process of buying or selling a home, you're likely already aware of the many legal, financial, and other issues that can affect the process and outcome of such a transaction.

While there are no laws in Stanwood, Washington 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.

In Stanwood, Washington, most real estate brokers are paid a commission, represented by a part of the sale price of the home. Some might charge a flat fee, however.

Getting a Mortgage in Stanwood, Washington

If the buyer asks a direct question regarding the physical condition of the property, the seller must answer it truthfully. Misrepresenting a material fact in a real estate transaction is a very significant 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 cognizant of, and the buyer can't be reasonably expected to discover before buying the house, must be disclosed.

Buyers should remember, nonetheless, that if they are not blameless in their failure to discover defects, they might not be able to recover if they sue.

Therefore, buyers must inspect the property before they buy it. If they don't, they can't sue for any defects they later become aware of, if an inspection would have revealed those defects.

Can a Stanwood, Washington Real Estate Attorney help?

If you are buying a home in Stanwood, Washington, 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 reputable real estate attorney can make it much easier to focus on the aspects of home ownership that matter to you.