Not All Contract Deadlines Are Created Equal
"Time is of the essence" When this phrase accompanies a deadline in a contract, performance by part...
Contract Closeup: Surveys for Residential Properties
Paragraph 6C of the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) (TXR 1601) includes requirement...
Is an Email an Enforceable Contract?
Emails can be useful for planning and negotiating a real estate deal. When exchanging emails while n...
Can a Buyer Deliver the Termination Option Fee to the Title Company?
Delivering the termination option fee to the title company puts the buyer at risk of not having an u...
What Form do You Use for That?
A real estate transaction can require many forms, contracts, and addenda. Even in a straightforward ...
Watch: What Stays or Goes With a House?
Whether you're representing buyers or sellers, there can sometimes be confusion over what goes with ...
Which Fee Section Applies in the Farm and Ranch Contract?
The Farm and Ranch Contract (TXR 1701) has two sections on page 9 related to fees: a Ratification of...
Is Selling Your Home Without Help Worth It?
Have you ever taken on a project that looked easy until you actually did the work? Selling your home...
What Happens if a Contract Term Is Left Blank?
A term left blank in a contract does not automatically equal a zero value, nor that the section is n...
Are You Counting Contract Deadlines Correctly?
Refresh your memory of how to count contract days and make sure you're correctly calculating deadlin...
From the Legal Hotline: When Time of Day is Not Specified in a Contract Deadline
We often receive calls asking when a time period expires or notice must be given if the contract d...
Your Free Guide to the One to Four Family Contract
Are you starting the new year as a new license holder? Or have you added a few agents to your broker...
What To Do When Presented With an Outdated Form
I received an offer on one of my listings, but included in the offer were forms drafted using outdat...
How Long is the List of Things You Don’t Know About Selling Your Home?
Selling a house on your own is like explaining the solar system to a child. You think you can handle...
How to Calculate the Earnest Money Deadline in the Residential Contract
There's now a strict three-day deadline to deliver earnest money in the One to Four Family Residenti...
An accepted contract is just the beginning
As a homebuyer or seller, an accepted contract is exciting. But hang on … the deal’s not done. T...
What to look for in licensing agreements with listing portals
If your MLS or brokerage is considering signing a license agreement with an online syndicator like Z...
Who should be the point of contact for notices?
Whose contact information should be written in Paragraph 21 of TREC contracts to receive notices? Th...