Real Estate Terminology 101 “Final acceptance” sounds like something that happens in a hospice, or perhaps what Woody Allen has been seeking in therapy all these years. Fortunately, the real estate version is not so macabre: it’s just a fancy way of saying, “Done Deal!” “Signed, Sealed, & (Constructively) Delivered” Specifically, “Final Acceptance” refers to...Read More
A Jury of One: The Buyer “Two men were walking through the woods when a large bear walked out into the clearing no more than 50 feet in front of them. The first man dropped his backpack and dug out a pair of running shoes, then began to furiously attempt to lace them up as...Read More
Housing Deal Deadlines & Other Key Terms No, I don’t recall ever handling a real estate deal where the Buyer or Seller omitted to fill in the purchase price or the closing date. But, I have handled multiple deals where the other side left blank something almost as significant. The three biggest — and most...Read More
Parsing a “5-2-1” Timeline in the Buyer’s Inspection Contingency [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] One of the trickiest clauses in the standard Minnesota housing purchase agreement...Read More
Price & Other Terms What is the Seller’s objective in multiple offers? If you said, “obtain the best offer,” you’d only be half-right; the better answer is, “obtain the best offer from the strongest Buyer.” “Eyes on the Prize” (Closing) That second, broader criterion takes into account not just the selling price, but such things...Read More
Why the Homestead Exemption Matters “If the Property Tax status is part- or non-homestead classification in the year of closing, Seller __ Shall __ Shall Not pay the difference between the homestead and non-homestead.” –lines 78. – 79.; 2015 MAAR-approved Purchase Agreement At least for more expensive Minnesota homes, the rule on non-homestead taxes is blissfully simple:...Read More
