Buying a piece of property directly from the home owner, or For Sale By Owner, is a viable alternative to searching the MLS, however, you need to be sure you are getting a square deal. A home seller with little to no experience in home sale values may not have set the price point at a place where the property will appraise.
The FSBO properties have some advantages, such as lower exposure to the real estate market and a chance to secure the property with just one offer. The home seller may have circulated flyers, placed a FSBO sign on the lawn and advertised in the local newspaper, thus cutting down on the serious buyer traffic for you to land a sweet deal.
The FSBO owner will walk you through the property, however, you must remember that they are emotionally attached to the home and may be sensitive to any criticism. Ask your necessary questions about the general features of the home, and be sure to inquire about any water marks on the ceiling or cracks in the home or outdoor cement. According to real estate law, any defects in a property must be disclosed to the buyer, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. In a professional real estate transaction, this type of information would be cited on the transfer disclosure document, a legal page that protects both parties should a later court case ensue.
To make your candidacy more attractive, be sure you get your mortgage documents in order and be pre-approved for the loan. A one page pre-approval letter should be taken with you to the FSBO property to give the owner peace of mind when letting a stranger into the home.
Once you have negotiated a final price, you must hire an appraisal company to be sure that the property appraises for the amount of the loan. Should the price be set too high, you may pay the difference out of pocket, ask for a price reduction to match the appraisal, or walk away and find another property. Your lender will not approve a final mortgage amount that exceeds the appraisal price of the property, so be sure that the price tag on the home meets with the comparable prices that area.
More information about how to a buy a for sale by owner house can be found at HowToBuyAHouse.org.