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We made an offer on a house last Monday October 19. Our agent said they came back with a counter offer on Thursday. We signed the paperwork and everything was moving along. We had our home inspection set up for today, October 27. Our agent called us yesterday and said that there is another offer on the table. What our agent failed to mention to us is that the "counter offer" was really a verbal agreement between the seller, seller's agent and my agent. We were going through all the steps because we thought it was under contract. My agent said it was a counter and what he really did was change the original offer and had us sign off on the change. We really want this house, is there anything we can do to get the house back. Jon and Kate

Submitted: 26 days and 22 hours ago.

Category: Legal

Value: $18

Status: CLOSED

State/Country relating to Question: Maryland

Already Tried:
Nothing this is my first step.

Posted by GoLaw 26 days and 22 hours ago.

Info Request

Thank you for using Just Answer. I need a bit more clarification on the circumstances surrounding your real estate transaction. Did you ever receive a signed document from the sellers?

26 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

No

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, the oral agreement between the seller and the agents is not binding. Maryland law (and virtually all other states) requires that a contract for the sale of real estate be in writing and signed by both parties. At this point, the only way to get the house would be to beat the counteroffer and that is assuming that the sellers have not already signed a contract with the competing buyers. That being said, it sounds like your realtor was not conducting his or her business properly. He or she should not have allowed you to schedule a structural inspection before the contract was signed, unless you had some reason for wishing to do so. Please let me know if you need additional clarification.

Accepts:
Expert:	GoLaw
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	10/28/2009

Attorney

Attorney with eight years of experience in business law and landlord-tenant law.

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State/Country relating to Question: Maryland

Already Tried:
Nothing this is my first step.

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Thank you for using Just Answer. I need a bit more clarification on the circumstances surrounding your real estate transaction. Did you ever receive a signed document from the sellers?

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No

Accepted Answer

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State/Country relating to Question: Maryland Already Tried: Nothing this is my first step.

Info Request

Thank you for using Just Answer. I need a bit more clarification on the circumstances surrounding your real estate transaction. Did you ever receive a signed document from the sellers?

Reply

No

Accepted Answer

Related Legal Questions

State/Country relating to Question: Maryland

Already Tried:
Nothing this is my first step.