For Sale by Owner in California

by Devine, George; Bray, Ilona M.; Allison, Linda; Bray, Ilona M.

• ISBN13: 9781413300246
• ISBN10: 1413300243
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: Nolo

Table of Contents

Introduction
When Is the Best Time to Sell Your House?	p. 2
Plan the Timing of Your Sale	p. 2
Why Sell Your House?	p. 2
The Best and Worst Times to Sell a House	p. 3
Selling one House and Buying Another	p. 5
Benefits of Timing Your House Sale	p. 8
Legal Requirements of Selling Your Own House
Property Sales Rules	p. 2
Encumbrances that may Impede Sale of Your House	p. 6
Dealing with Brokers and Other Third Parties	p. 8
Legal Prohibitions When Selling Your Own House	p. 10
Tax Considerations When Selling a House
Calculate Your Gain	p. 2
Time Your Sale	p. 4
Installment Sales	p. 5
Short Sales	p. 5
Keeping Track of Tax Deductions When Selling a House	p. 6
How to Work With Real Estate Agents
Services Offered by Real Estate Agents	p. 2
How California Real Estate Agents are Paid	p. 5
Standard Broker's Contract: Exclusive Listing	p. 5
Modifying the Standard Contract and Commission	p. 8
Alternative Real Estate Contracts	p. 9
Paying a Broker by the Hour	p. 12
Evaluating Real Estate Agents	p. 13
Getting Rid of a Broker you Don't Like	p. 16
How Much Should You Ask for Your House?
Determine Prices of Comparable Houses	p. 2
Hire a Professional Appraiser	p. 4
Ask a Broker for Help	p. 7
Learn the Asking Prices of Houses for Sale	p. 7
Take the Temperature of the Local Housing Market	p. 8
Price Your Own House	p. 8
How to Tell the World Your House Is For Sale
Advertise--in the Classifieds	p. 2
Advertise in Other Media	p. 5
Hang for Sale Signs	p. 5
Distribute Your Own Printed Property Fact Sheet	p. 8
Marketing Your House on the Internet	p. 12
Preparing Your House for Sale and Making Disclosures
Handling Phone Calls	p. 2
Making Your Home Attractive Before Showing It	p. 4
Preparing for a Safe Showing	p. 5
Holding an Open House	p. 6
Protecting Your Property	p. 8
Obeying Anti-Discrimination Laws	p. 10
Making All Disclosures	p. 10
Complying with Local Ordinances	p. 22
Follow-up After the Open House	p. 22
Making Sure the Buyer Is Financially Qualified to Buy Your House
House Financing Basics	p. 3
Evaluating Potential Buyers	p. 5
How Bankers Qualify Buyers for Home Purchase	p. 9
Seller Financing	p. 10
The House Sale Contract
Waiting for Offers	p. 2
Only a Written Offer is Legally Valid	p. 2
Offer Form Terminology	p. 3
Types of Offer Forms	p. 3
Understanding the Offer Form	p. 4
Offers, Counteroffers and Negotiations
The Legal Status of Listing Your House for Sale	p. 2
The Offer Conference	p. 2
Revoking an Offer	p. 5
The Art of Negotiating	p. 5
Counteroffers	p. 5
Accepting an Offer or Counteroffer	p. 7
Revoking a Counteroffer	p. 8
Backup Offers and Wipe-Out Clauses	p. 9
After the Contract Is Signed: Proceeding Through Escrow
Opening Escrow	p. 2
Removing Contingencies	p. 5
Title Report and Title Insurance	p. 10
Buyer's Final Physical Inspection of the Property	p. 11
Closing Escrow	p. 11
What If Something Goes Wrong During Escrow?
The Seller Backs Out	p. 2
The Buyer Backs Out	p. 2
The Buyer or Seller Dies	p. 3
The House is Destroyed by Natural Disaster	p. 3
The Escrow Holder's Role in a Dispute	p. 3
When Your House Is Difficult to Sell: Lease-Option Agreements
Lease-Option	p. 2
Provisions to Include in a Lease-Option Contract	p. 3
Modifying and Signing the Option Agreement	p. 14
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