contracts - The Howell Group

February 9, 2016

Real Estate Negotiation – What’s Reasonable And What’s Not?

In simplest terms, a real estate negotiation is a discussion that generally takes place between two sides with an issue to resolve. Both sides attempt to use influence and/or leverage to obtain their respective goals,...

February 8, 2016

Does It Convey? – MLS Vs. The Contract

Recently on our Facebook page we shared an article from this site, “Does that come with the house? Accessories and Improvements,” about what is considered part of the house according to the legal definition of improvements and...

January 28, 2016

What’s a T-47 And Why Do I Need One?

The T-47 Residential Real Property Affidavit (also known simply as the T-47) is a notarized form that complements a survey in a real estate transaction. It is used when both parties to the transaction want...

January 6, 2016

The Option Period: Termination And Timelines

The option period section of the contract has been moved and merged with an earlier paragraph. After we re-launch the site, we will go through and refresh some of these older articles covering forms that...

January 1, 2016

New Contract Forms For Commercial Real Estate

On January 1, 2016, the Texas Association of Realtors, updated a long list of contract forms for use by its members. This list included a couple of commercial forms, notably the Commercial Contract – Improved...

December 28, 2015

Arbitration And Mediation For Real Estate

No one likes to talk about legal action when it comes to real estate, whether it’s arbitration, mediation, or a lawsuit. Let’s face it, no agent wants to be involved in lawsuits or complaints against...

July 24, 2014

Non-Realty Items Addendum: Friend Or Foe?

The Non-Realty Items Addendum Can Mess With Your Home Loan [Editor’s note: Today, we’ve brought on Jennifer Guidry, a local lender, to talk about the Non-Realty Items Addendum, which we’ve discussed before in “Does that...

June 12, 2014

Residential Contract: A Closer Look at Buying a Home Part III

The One To Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) And Buying A Home We’re back again with Part III of our series on the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) – we’ve covered a lot...

June 11, 2014

Residential Contract: A Closer Look At Buying A Home Part II

The One To Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) And Buying A Home Yesterday, we started our breakdown of the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) used in Texas to buy a home. We covered...

June 10, 2014

Residential Contract: A Close Look At Buying A Home Part I

The One To Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) And Buying A Home When buying a home in Texas, most buyers will use the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) to write their offer and...

May 20, 2014

Important Changes To Contracts Regarding Repairs

In new contract forms coming online on June 1, 2014, repairs will now be required to be made by someone who is licensed to perform that type of work (or if the work does not...

May 14, 2014

What Is An Escalation Clause? Should I Use One?

Understanding An Escalation Clause An escalation clause is phrasing in a contract that is sometimes used to strengthen a buyer’s position in a multiple offer situation. The basic idea is that the buyer offers to...