Written Buyer Agreements: What You Need To Know

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When you begin working with a REALTOR® to buy a home, you will be asked to sign a written buyer agreement. Here’s what you need to know about these agreements:

What is a written buyer agreement and what does it do? 

A written buyer agreement is an agreement between you and your REALTOR® that outlines the services your REALTOR® will provide you, and what they will be paid for those services.

Why am I being asked to sign an agreement? 

Written buyer agreements became a nationwide requirement for many REALTOR® as a part of the National Association of REALTORS®’ proposed settlement of litigation related to broker commissions. The requirement went into effect on August 17, 2024.

Are these agreements new?

In some places, yes. Many states have required them for years, while some, including Illinois, have not. As a result, it is entirely possible you or others you know have not used them in the past. Regardless, they are now a nationwide requirement for many REALTORS®. 

Are these agreements negotiable? 

Yes. You should feel empowered to negotiate any aspect of the agreement with your REALTOR®, such as the services you want to receive, the length of the agreement and the compensation, if any. Compensation between you and your REALTOR® is negotiable and not set by law. In the written agreement, the compensation must be clearly defined (e.g., $0, X flat fee, X percent, X hourly rate), not open-ended or a range. It is important to sign only an agreement that reflects what you have agreed to with your REALTOR®. 

How do I benefit from these agreements? 

These agreements clearly lay out what services you, as a homebuyer, expect your REALTOR® to provide, and what your REALTOR® will be paid. These agreements make things clear and reduce any potential confusion at the outset of your relationship with your REALTOR®. 

When do I need to sign an agreement? 

You will be asked to enter into a written buyer agreement with your REALTOR® before touring a home with them, either in-person or virtually. If you are simply visiting an open house on your own or asking a REALTOR® about their services, you do not need to sign a written buyer agreement. 

Does this mean I have to pay my REALTOR® out of pocket? 

Not necessarily. While you are responsible for paying your REALTOR® what is outlined by your agreement, you can still request, negotiate for and receive compensation for your REALTOR® from the seller or their REALTOR®. 

Do agreements dictate a specific type of relationship I need to have with my REALTOR®? 

No—you are allowed to enter into any type of business relationship with your REALTOR® that is allowed in the state law where you live. 

Can I change or exit an agreement? 

Yes. You and your REALTOR® can mutually agree to change your agreement. Agreements may have specific conditions under which they can be exited, so read the text of the agreement and speak with your REALTOR® if you would like to change or exit your agreement.

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What Sellers Need To Know About the NAR Settlement

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Recently, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reached a settlement agreement that will change the homebuying and selling process. While a REALTOR® will still be there to help you through the journey, here’s an overview of the changes that will go into effect on August 17.

As a seller, you still have the choice of offering compensation to buyer brokers. You may consider doing this as a way of marketing your home or making your listing more attractive to buyers.

When working with your REALTOR®, they must disclose and obtain your approval for any payment or offer of payment that a listing broker will make to another broker acting for buyers. This disclosure must be made to you in writing in advance of any payment or agreement to pay another broker acting for buyers, and must specify the amount or rate of such payment.

If you choose to approve an offer of compensation, there are changes to how this can happen. As a seller, you can still make an offer of compensation, but your REALTOR® cannot include it on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS)—MLSs are local marketplaces used by both buyer brokers and listing brokers to share information about properties for sale. Your REALTOR® can advertise your listing via off-MLS platforms such as social media, flyers and websites. And, as a seller, you can still offer buyer concessions on an MLS, like concessions for buyer closing costs.

To read more details about these changes, visit facts.realtor.

What Homebuyers Need to Know About NAR’s Settlement

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Recently, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reached a settlement agreement that will change the homebuying and selling process. While a REALTOR® will still be there to help you through the journey, here’s an overview of the changes that will go into effect on August 17.

As a buyer, you will have to sign a written agreement with your REALTOR® before touring a home. Before signing this agreement, you should ensure it reflects the terms you have negotiated with your agent and that you understand exactly what services and value will be provided, and for how much.

Your buyer agreement must include the following four aspects surrounding compensation:

  1. A specific and conspicuous disclosure of the amount or rate of compensation the real estate agent will receive or how this amount will be determined.
  2. Compensation that is objective (e.g., $0, X flat fee, X percent, X hourly rate)—and not open-ended (e.g., cannot be “buyer broker compensation shall be whatever the amount the seller is offering to the buyer”).
  3. A term that prohibits the agent from receiving compensation for brokerage services from any source that exceeds the amount or rate agreed to in the agreement with the buyer; and,
  4. A conspicuous statement that broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law.

These written agreements apply to in-person and virtual home tours. However, if you are only speaking to an agent at an open house or discussing their services with them, no written agreement is necessary.

Sellers may still agree to offer compensation to your agent. This practice is permitted but the offer cannot be shared on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS)— MLSs are local marketplaces used by both buyer brokers and listing brokers to share information about properties for sale. Also, you can still accept concessions from the seller, such as offers to pay your closing costs.

To read more details about these changes, visit facts.realtor.

What To Know: Transitioning from Renting to Buying

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It’s time. You’re ready to move on from following your landlord’s rules and ready to purchase a place you can call home. Follow these steps to make transitioning from renting to buying as easy as possible.

Consider Your Financial Situation

While buying a home may be a better way to build wealth, buying a home is a big financial decision. Take the time to consider your goals and plans for the future, and ask yourself some of the following questions

  • How will my finances look different if I buy as opposed to rent?
  • Do I have the means to maintain a home and the repairs that come with it?
  • Will I be able to make monthly mortgage payments?

Understand the Full Cost of Owning A Home

When you purchase a home, you need to pay more than just your principal and interest rates. Also lumped into your mortgage payment is what’s known as PITI:  principal, interest, taxes and insurance.

You’ll also need to consider the extra costs associated with owning a home, including your down payment and closing costs when you first purchase your home, as well as other monthly payments like utilities and other maintenance needs.

Get Your Homebuying Team Together

When you’ve determined that you’re ready to buy, it’s time to put together your homebuying team who will help guide you through the transaction with ease. This includes a REALTOR®, lender, attorney and inspector. Click here for more details on these individual’s roles during the homebuying process.

Start Your Search

We’ve gathered five easy steps to follow in the beginning stages of the home buying process to make the journey to your new home as easy and seamless as possible. This includes creating a plan, researching, finding a REALTOR®, choosing a loan and getting pre-approved. Get more information on these important steps here.

What To Know About A Home Warranty

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Home warranties can help you save money on appliance repairs and maintenance of your home, but they may not be right for everyone. So, if you’ve just bought a home, and are debating whether a home warranty is right for you, here’s what you need to know.

The Difference Between Insurance & Warranties

You may think that you’re covered because you have home insurance, but a warranty is a separate entity. Homeowners insurance covers unforeseen damage to your home, specifically weather related incidences, while warranties cover things breaking down within your home, like the HVAC, kitchen appliances, garbage disposals, washers and dryers and more.

How It Works

Once you sign up for a home warranty, if something breaks down, you will submit a claim to your provider. From there, the provider will set you up with a repair company, who will contact you to set up an appointment. The repair or replacement will take place, and you will cover either the service fee or repair, whichever is less.

Benefits of A Home Warranty

A home warranty provides you with piece of mind, especially for those who don’t consider themselves handy. When something breaks, you know someone will be there to fix it for you. A home warranty can also help you stay on budget, as there are fewer unanticipated costs that may arise.

The Cons of A Home Warranty

Not everything is covered by a home warranty plan. For instance, a warranty won’t cover something that has not been properly maintained. Also, you pay up front for the cost of your plan each year. So, if a year goes by with no issues or repairs, you will still have to pay the price of the premium.

As always, discuss your best course of action with your REALTOR®. Find a Chicago REALTOR here.

Navigating the Offer Process

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The time has come to let go of your current home, and congratulations, you got an offer from a prospective buyer! Now, the question is, what should you take into consideration when looking at an offer? Here’s what you and your REALTOR® should look at when deciding whether to accept or reject an offer, because the highest offer may not be the best choice.

The Earnest Money Deposit

An earnest money deposit is the money a buyer is offering to pay when the sales agreement is signed. This money, which is usually 1-3% of the house’s cost, gets held by the title company and put towards the buyer’s down payment during closing. If a buyer tries to back out of a sale without reason, this money is given to the seller. So, the higher the earnest money deposit, the more serious a buyer is about buying a home.

Contingencies

Contingency agreements must go through before a home is sold. The fewer contingencies, the quicker a home sale will be complete. There are five common contingencies, including:

  • Home inspection
  • Appraisal
  • Financing
  • Sale of current home
  • Title

While an appraisal contingency is required to approve a loan, you can talk with your REALTOR to determine if you’d like to negotiate any of the other contingencies.

Cash Offers

The more a buyer puts down for a home, the more likely a lender will approve their loan. Cash offers typically lead to quicker closings, as a mortgage lender doesn’t need to be involved, there’s less risk of the offer not panning out and appraisals aren’t necessary.

Closing Date

A typical home sale, from offer to closing, takes between 30 to 60 days. Your circumstances, combined with the seller’s, may determine what offer you take. For instance, if you already purchased a new home, you may be looking for a buyer who can close quicker.

As always, your REALTOR® will be able to guide you through the selling process. If you’re thinking about buying or selling, start your REALTOR® search here.

Habits That Will Save You Money on Utilities 

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We’re all looking for ways to cut costs and save money. According to Numbeo, the average price of utilities, including electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage, in Chicago costs $163.52 per month for a 915 square foot apartment. However, there are small habits you can build into your day-to-day life that will add up to save you money in the long run.

Switch to LED Bulbs

LED bulbs use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer. Not only will switching your bulbs save you money on your energy bill, but you will also save money by replacing bulbs less frequently.

Unplug Electronic Devices or Appliances

Electronic devices and appliances continue to use a small amount of energy even when they are plugged in, even if they’re not in use. Either unplug them or use a power strip that you can turn off to avoid spending additional money when these items are not in use.

Open Air Vents & Keep Them Clear

It may seem obvious, but when you turn on your air conditioning for the first time in the summer, check all of your vents to make sure they are open and air is moving through them. Also, it’s important to ensure no large pieces of furniture or other items are in front of your vents. These changes will help your air conditioner work less, thus saving you money!

Replace Your Filters

When your filters are full of hair, dust and dirt, your heating and cooling units have to work harder to maintain the temperature in your home. Keep your heating and air conditioning units running efficiently by replacing the filters quarterly.

Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

Running cold water costs less than using warm or hot water, so switch your settings when you throw in a load of laundry!

Air Dry Your Laundry

Speaking of laundry, try air drying your clothes after a wash instead of using the dryer!

Utilize Your Ceiling Fans

If it’s not hot enough to turn on the air conditioning, but you want to cool down a room, utilize your ceiling fan! Fans can cool your room down by 10 degrees and use a fraction of the energy your air conditioning unit would.

By implementing these simple changes, you can save money on your utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint, which is a win-win for both your wallet and the environment!

Debunking Common Homebuying Myths 

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When purchasing a home, there are many things that come into consideration, however, some of the most common things that you might hear about purchasing a home might not tell you everything you need to know about purchasing a home. Here are some common myths you may hear about when purchasing a home and the real story behind them.

You need to put down a 20% down payment.

While it is true that a larger down payment can sometimes lead to a lower mortgage rate, it is not always necessary to put down a large amount of money. There are several programs available that allow homebuyers to put down as little as 3% or even 0% of the purchase price. In fact, the average first-time homebuyer puts down 7% on their home.

You need high credit to qualify for a mortgage.

Credit scores are a vital part of getting approved for a loan to buy a home. The better your credit score, the better your loan terms will be, although, you can get a mortgage with a lower credit score as low as 580.

You need a 20% down payment to avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI).

PMI is insurance that protects a lender if the borrower defaults on their mortgage. While it is true that a down payment of 20% or more will typically allow you to avoid PMI, it is not the only way. Some lenders offer programs that allow homebuyers to avoid PMI with a smaller down payment, or even with no down payment at all. Make sure to shop around for a loan, and ask them about PMI.

A REALTOR® isn’t necessary.

While it is possible to buy a home without a REALTOR®, it can be a complicated and time-consuming process. A REALTOR® can help you navigate the process, negotiate on your behalf and provide valuable insight and advice. Here is a list of ways using a REALTOR® will help make your transaction easier.

A Closer Look At Closing Costs

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Closing costs are a one time payment that is made on your home on the day the sale closes. However, not all closing costs are created equal. Some are negotiable, while others are set in stone. Here is what you need to know about them.

Overview of Closing Costs

Closing costs, in short, is the money you must pay when you buy a house. These fees for a home can vary depending on the price and type of home you are purchasing. They cover every expense associated with buying a house — from legal fees to property taxes to an inspection.  

There are several costs that you should budget for if you’re planning on buying a home.

Common Closing Costs

  • Loan Application Fee
  • Appraisal Costs
  • Attorney Fee
  • Closing Fee
  • Credit Reporting Fee
  • Escrow Funds
  • Homeowner’s Insurance
  • Loan Origination Fee
  • Title Insurance
  • Property Taxes
  • Transfer Tax
  • Underwriting Fee

Depending on how much money you’re putting toward a down payment, the type of mortgage, the type of home, the location of the home and other considerations, you may end up having to other additional fees.

Budgeting for Closing Costs

In general, closing costs are typically between 2% and 5% of the property’s purchase price. For example, if you are purchasing a home for $300,000, your costs could range from $6,000 to $15,000.  However, it is important to keep in mind that this is just a rough estimate, and the actual amount you pay could be higher or lower depending on a variety of factors.   

To determine how much you will have to pay, you should work closely with your lender and REALTOR®. They can help you understand the various fees associated with purchasing a home and provide you with a detailed list of anticipated costs. You can ask your lender for a loan estimate, which provides a similar breakdown of costs but also includes information about the terms of the mortgage.  

Budgeting for closing costs is an important part of the homebuying process. To prepare for these costs, you may want to set aside a specific amount of money in a savings account. You may also be able to negotiate with the seller or lender to reduce the closing costs, although this may not be possible in all cases.  

Ensure that you review all costs before signing the final purchase agreement to understand all the fees involved. By being prepared and budgeting for these fees, you can make the homebuying process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

7 Steps to Prepare Your Home to Sell

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Selling your home is not always a straightforward process. Sometimes, it can be complex and time-consuming, but understanding the steps to successfully sell a home will ease your stress. By knowing how to get your house selling ready, you can make sure that your home is selling at the price you want and ensure the process go smoothly. Here are some tips for getting your home ready to sell:   

Clean & Declutter

Before you start showing your home to potential buyers, it is important to give it a thorough cleaning and declutter as much as possible. Remove any personal items and excess clutter, and consider hiring a professional cleaning service to give your home a fresh, clean look.  

Make Necessary Repairs

Fix any broken or damaged items in your home, such as leaky faucets, broken windows or chipped paint. These small repairs can go a long way in making your home more appealing to potential buyers and increasing its value.  

Stage Your Home

Staging your home means making it look attractive and inviting to potential buyers. This can include rearranging furniture, adding decorations and making sure the home is well-lit and welcoming. Staging your home can help potential buyers visualize themselves living in the space. Consider hiring a professional stager or using your furniture and décor to create a cohesive and inviting look.  

Price It Right

Setting the right price for your home is crucial to selling it. When setting a price for your home, it is important to be realistic. You should consider factors such as the condition of your home, its location and comparable sales in the area. Research comparable homes in your area to get a sense of what your home is worth. Your REALTOR® will help you along this process, make suggestions and ensure you’re set up for success!

Market Your Home

In today’s market, it is important to use a variety of marketing strategies to get your home noticed. This can include listing your home on websites, as well as utilizing social media and other online platforms to highlight your home.  Also, your REALTOR® will have an arsenal of time-tested ways to ensure your house is being marketed to the right people, so make sure to utilize their skills.

Be Prepared for Showings

When potential buyers come to see your home, make sure it is ready for them. This means keeping it clean and tidy, turning on all the lights and having a good supply of fresh towels and linens for any potential buyers who may want to see the bathrooms.  

Be Flexible

The process of selling a home can be unpredictable, and you may need to be flexible to close the deal. This may mean being open to negotiations, making repairs or updates at the request of the buyer or adjusting your selling timeline.  

By following these tips, you can increase the appeal of your home and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Remember to be patient and keep an open mind as you navigate the process of selling your home.