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Keeping Your Earnest Money Safe

When you make an offer on a house, it is accompanied by an earnest money check. Earnest money is intended to demonstrate that you are "in earnest" about purchasing the property. The earnest money check is made out to the listing company. What happens to this check?

The party holding the check acts as an escrow agent until you go into closing. At that time you will receive credit for the amount of your check against the down payment and closing costs. Real estate brokers are required by law to keep escrow funds in a special account. These funds cannot be used to pay any other expenses associated with the sale. If you don't complete the transaction, the purchase contract determines the disposition of your earnest money funds. Be sure to review this part of your contract with the real estate agent.

If you are in default on your agreement, the funds may go to the sellers, so be sure that you understand the deadlines in order to avoid breach of contract and forfeiture of your deposit. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your real estate agent for advice.

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Real Estate Tips

Foreclosures >1. What Is a Foreclosure?

A foreclosure is a legal process through which a mortgagor loses his or her equitable right to redeem a mortgaged estate; in other words, the lender completely repossesses the home from the borrower (homeowner.) The lender goes through the legal motions to sell the property, terminate all the homeowner’s rights in that property, and remove the homeowner.

What are the effects?

The most stressful and pressing effect that foreclosure has is that the borrower loses his or her place to live.

Foreclosure negatively affects the borrower’s credit rating. It stays on a credit report for seven years and drops a credit score 250 points.

A borrower who’s been foreclosed on may have trouble finding and keeping jobs since good credit may be required by employers to be hired.

A foreclosed home can bring down the value of surrounding homes.

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Real Estate Trivia

Q	What four states in the Southwest are noted for having boundaries that touch.
A	New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, referred to as the "Four Corners", have adjoining boundaries.
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WEICHERT, REALTORS© - The Chase Team, REALTOR®, real estate agent and broker for Norwell and Scituate, home listings, property and land for sale - NUMBER1EXPERT

The Chase Team
WEICHERT REALTORS - The Chase Team
146 Front Street
Scituate, MA 02066
781-545-7900
Fax: 781-545-7901
Cell: 617-803-2660
donna@chaseteam.com
Where others might take the easy road, Donna, as one of America's NUMBER1EXPERTS™ in the Norwell and Scituate areas, travels the route that delivers the BEST results and service to her clients. Donna skillfully negotiates through any transaction with years of sales and negotiations training, to deftly turn obstacles into advantages for her clients. She arrives at her goal using inspired strategies and creative marketing, unlike any other agent you may have met! Donna's properties are selling quickly. Call her today for a half-hour presentation to show you a different approach to marketing your property.