This is hardly so. But, as rules lead to order, that should be a good thing. Rules keep us from crashing into each other at intersections and help us determine when title is acceptable in a real estate sale. Bright-line, clearly worded rules, should be easy to follow. Life, however, rarely presents a simple set of facts like we might see in a hypothetical put to us in the classroom…
Read On
ENOLA, PA (Oct. 25, 2021) – REALTORS® from the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® (GHAR) volunteered with Wildheart Ministries, New Hope Ministries, Rebuilding Together and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank throughout the month of October in celebration of REALTORS® Reach Out Month. Pennsylvania REALTORS® across the commonwealth are working in their communities to make a difference through REALTORS® Reach Out…
Read On
CAMP HILL, PA (Oct. 14, 2021) – The Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Foundation awarded two grants to charitable organizations supporting the greater Harrisburg community at its Annual Meeting and Trade Fair on October 13th. These funds will help advance their housing and shelter-related missions. Foundation President Danielle Wadsworth presented the two checks, each for $2,000…
Read On
Years ago the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® adopted the practice of inserting default timelines in its standard forms. All of these defaults can be overridden, but mostly they become standards. By default, a buyer has 5 days after execution of a standard agreement to tender a deposit. At one time, from the advent of standard forms to nearly present day…
Read On
It may have taken an extremely seller-favored market, but the average deposit on a residential transaction is higher than at any time in my observation. Listing agents are not so timid now that there are numerous buyers waiting at the door, each clamoring to present a “best” offer. This phenomenon does not answer for me these two questions: (1) is it enough…
Read On
ENOLA, PA (August 11, 2021) – The Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Foundation collaborated with Kick in for Kids, Inc. for their annual school supplies drive. REALTORS® and affiliate members from over 40 member offices made it their mission this summer to collect donations of backpacks, pencils, pens, paper, crayons, markers, scissors, binders, notebooks, and other school and craft supplies for local students…
Read On
A transaction can collapse for any number of reasons. Getting a release is ideal because it makes clear that the transaction is over. Dead. Done. A release represents a resolution and it’s not always possible to secure an agreed upon resolution. Suppose the Buyer fails to make a substantial deposit when due and the Seller seeks to terminate…
Read On
James L. Goldsmith, Esquire Victoria P. Edwards, Esquire Not too long ago I spoke to a home inspector who claimed that his residential home inspections were down about 90% from what they were pre-pandemic! With the present supply/demand imbalance, buyers are making offers sans inspection contingencies. Hoping to recapture some business, the inspector questioned whether he could offer a service that consisted of accompanying buyers to showings…
Read On
ENOLA, PA (June 25, 2021) – The Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Foundation hosted its Annual Golf Outing on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at Armitage Golf Club in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Proceeds will benefit housing-related charities in the Greater Harrisburg area. The Foundation welcomes men, women, and mixed foursomes from all business and organization types. For the 144 golfers…
Read On
It’s not unusual for an agreement of sale to go under multiple modifications before settlement. Perhaps an inspection results in a financial concession followed by an another price modification after discovery of additional problems. Putting the modifications in writing is required; clarity is also essential. In the second Change in Terms you might state something like “Seller credits Buyer with $3,000 at settlement.” Does that $3,000 represent the total financial concession or is that $3,000 concession on top of (in addition to) the previous $2,000 concession (also placed in writing)?
Read On
