Can the title company obtain payoff statements directly from the lenders, or do I need to request them myself? – NC

Can the title company obtain payoff statements directly from the lenders, or do I need to request them myself? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a title company or closing attorney can usually obtain payoff or short-pay statements directly from mortgage lenders if the property owner signs a written authorization naming them as…

Do I have to pay any part of the buyer’s agent commission under current practices, and how can that be negotiated to help the sale? – NC

Do I have to pay any part of the buyer’s agent commission under current practices, and how can that be negotiated to help the sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, there is no automatic legal requirement that a seller or trustee must pay a buyer’s agent commission; it is a contract term…

How do I check if lot numbers have changed due to re-subdivision or re-recording since the original plat? – NC

How do I check if lot numbers have changed due to re-subdivision or re-recording since the original plat? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, changes to lot numbers normally show up on later subdivision or recombination plats recorded in the county Register of Deeds, often alongside updated parcel numbers in the county tax/GIS…

Will a lender release me from the loan if the other borrower assumes or refinances, and what steps do I take to request it? – NC

Will a lender release me from the loan if the other borrower assumes or refinances, and what steps do I take to request it? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a lender will not automatically release a co-borrower from a mortgage loan just because another borrower assumes the debt or refinances. A…

What happens after my attorney reviews the appraisal with me—do we negotiate, list the property, or take other steps? – NC

What happens after my attorney reviews the appraisal with me—do we negotiate, list the property, or take other steps? – North Carolina Short Answer After a North Carolina real estate attorney reviews an appraisal with a client, the usual next steps are to (1) compare the appraised value to goals and other pricing information, (2)…

Do all co-owners have to sign the acceptance and sales contract, or can one person authorize it on behalf of everyone? – NC

Do all co-owners have to sign the acceptance and sales contract, or can one person authorize it on behalf of everyone? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, every property owner whose interest is being sold generally must sign the real estate sales contract and the later deed, unless a valid written power…

How do I handle multiple or backup offers without violating an agreement I’ve already signed? – NC

How do I handle multiple or backup offers without violating an agreement I’ve already signed? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, once a seller signs a binding purchase contract, that seller must honor it and cannot simply accept a better offer for the same property without risking breach of contract. Additional offers…