Tips for First Time Home Buyers in a HOT Market: Get a Home Inspection

A headline in a April 2018 St Paul Pioneer Press article reads, "White Bear Lake Man Believes Old Batteries Robbed him of Health and Home". The foundation of his 1939 built lake home and surrounding retaining walls around the property were constructed using emptied out battery casings filled with concrete. 

White Bear is  a community where I have sold many homes, and this situation is highly toxic. While this issue was not apparent to him when he purchased decades ago, it was to a local home inspector who actually mentioned the very home in another article about why get a home inspection. 

This is not only a very sad story and unbelievable situation, this is a reminder of why buying  a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) can be costly. The form for a home disclosure in Minnesota wasn't as comprehensive as it is today. A homeowner could get an inspection but not all buyers did. Which is happening again today.

Because of the low housing inventory and extremely high demand for existing single family homes buyers, who are often desperate for their opportunity to own a house, take short cuts. This is not a wise decision. As an professional REALTOR®, it is my job to make certain my home buyers have contingencies in place for the opportunity to have one (or more) professional inspectors comprehensively view the home before moving forward on with their purchase. 

Inspectors cannot see everything but do guide home buyers on where to look further if necessary. In the White Bear home the basement was unfinished and the battery casings complete visible when this family purchased. While this is a very unusual circumstance, home inspectors do uncover many issues that help home buyers make good informed decisions. 

I always encourage a thorough top to bottom home inspection to my home buyers. Buying a home is one time where cutting corners does not make sense--even in a hot seller's market!

READY to Make YOUR Move? It IS essential to have a knowledgeable agent at your side. If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me, Teri Eckholm of BOARDMAN Realty, a call at 651-336-7073 or visit my website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
 
Copyright 2018 terieckholm.com

What Does AGENCY mean to the First Time Homebuyer?

So you are planning to buy a home soon. Maybe you have even stopped in at an open house or two. If you did, the hosting REALTOR® may have started talking about buyer's agents and seller's agents and possibly even a dual agent. But what does agency really mean? And why should you as a Minnesota homebuyer care? 

In Minnesota, real estate brokers and salespersons are required to disclose the type of working relationship they have with the parties in a real estate transaction.  As a homebuyer, there are different types of relationships available to you.  It is important to understand these before you sign a contract or purchase agreement for a home.  These relationships are called  “agency” relationships and carry with them legal, fiduciary duties and responsibilities for the broker as well as for the buyer and seller. 

The 3 most common agency agreements are the buyer's agent, seller's agent and dual agent.

Buyer’s Agent

A Buyer’s Agent acts solely on behalf of the buyer and owes duties to the buyer including the utmost good faith, loyalty, and fidelity.  The agent will negotiate on behalf of, and act as an advocate for, the buyer.  The buyer is legally responsible for the actions of the agent when that agent is acting within the scope of the agency.  The agent must disclose to sellers all adverse material facts concerning the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction and whether the buyer intends to occupy the property.  A separate written buyers’ agreement or contract is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the parties.

Seller’s Agent

A Seller’s Agent acts solely on behalf of the seller and owes duties to the seller which includes the utmost good faith, loyalty, and fidelity.  The agent will negotiate on behalf of, and act as an advocate for; the seller.  The seller is legally responsible for the actions of the agent when that agent is acting within the scope of the agency.  The agent must disclose to buyers all adverse material facts about the property that are known by the broker.  A separate written listing agreement or contract is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the parties.

In both buyer and seller agency, the following fiduciary duties are owed to the client: 

FIDUCIARY DUTIES

Loyalty

Obedience

Disclosure

Confidentiality

Reasonable Care

Accounting

 DUAL Agent  

A dual agency is created when both the buyer and seller have signed representation agreements with the same broker. The parties may have two different salespersons or they may be the same person. All duties and obligations to the buyers and sellers remain the same in a dual agency.

Because it is impossible to disclose all information AND be confidential at the same time, dual agency must be disclosed and agreed to in writing.  All material facts regarding the property must be disclosed regardless of agency. 

Why is this so Important?

When you look for a home, every house listed on the MLS has some agreement between the seller and the listing broker. If a buyer does not sign a contract and attends an open house, the nice agent asking all the questions at the open house about your financial ability to purchase is under contract to share everything you say with their seller. 

But if a homebuyer signs a contract with a REALTOR® before viewing any homes, their private information stays private. AND the best part for MY buyers is that signing a contract does not cost anything. All fees are paid at the closing and the commission is paid for from the seller so there is NO OUT of POCKET cost to have a REALTOR® in your corner.

Copyright 2014 www.terieckholm.com