SUMMARY: So many things to read and sign!
Everyone seems to use DocuSign now for viewing and signing legal docs. Did this when I sold my parent's house. Also when I put my San Jose house on the market earlier this year and then, eventually, sold it. So many documents! I'm an old pro now at signing electronically.
So far for this new house, I've read and, in many cases, initialed and/or signed (maybe not everything, and not necessarily in this order):
- The responsibilities (and limitations) of a realtor (AH is handling my house hunt and purchase)
- The neighborhood (4 houses only!) CC&Rs and CC&R Amendment -- short and sweet (What are CC&Rs?)
- Short Plat (measurement, easements, and survey notes on the property)
- Original Sewer (septic system) permit drawing and info
Partial septic permit - Residential Purchase and Sale Agreement: The original offer that I made on the house (5 pages) a week ago and the seller's counter offer, which I accepted (small mods to that document)
- Addendums to the agreement that I will provide proof of available funds for purchasing and that the agreement isn't final until I have had the house inspected and accept the results
- Blah blah standard addendums coming out my ears (just a few more single-page items providing assorted info), plus the FIRPTA (Foreign Investment Real Property Tax Act), which essentially says, nope, we're all citizens here
- An amendment to the Agreement because I didn't think about my Trust until after the Agreement was signed
- Amendment to the agreement to extend the time for completing inspections by 5 days
- Septic inspection reports from the last 2 years
- Contract with a property inspector specifying what they do and don't inspect
- Commitment for title insurance
- Preliminary Title Report (13 pages)
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| Septic system access covers (as shown on the drawing above) |
Yesterday and today, I:
- Paid the property inspector
- Paid my "earnest money" to the title company; essentially a small deposit which, in certain uncommon circumstances, I could lose if I back out of the sale. Very standard.
- Provided the title company with proof that I have the full cash purchase price covered across various banks
- Discussed with AH the inspector's preliminary verbal report, what items we would ask the seller take care of over the next week, and that I will pay for an inspection of the HVAC system (built-in vacuum) in the same timeframe (and AH will find someone to do the inspection)
Just wait until I get to Signing Day with the title company. Six squillion more documents to read and sign and then--erk--I hand over the purchase price to the title company!
Exciting! And not too scary; this will be the 5th home I've purchased over the years.
