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Realtor cost or other option for closing ?

2,396 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by Red Pear Realty
kyle field 94
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9:57p, 6/8/25
AG
I am potentially looking a selling a house to my neighbor.

What is a reasonable and fair amount to pay a realtor to process the paperwork needed for closing? Would a real estate lawyer be an option ?

I understand that there are title costs and title insurance fee costs, county filings, etc etc. I understand that I as seller would be responsible for these costs as well, not an issue.

I am curious what a realtor would charge to process paperwork on a deal that has been all agreed. Neither the buyer nor seller has signed nor discussed realtor representation with anyone.

Deal would be all agreed upon between me and buyer.

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SteveBott
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10:04p, 6/8/25
AG
Both of you should get their own attorney. Yes it might not be necessary right now but both of you will be better off.

BTW the costs you mentioned are not mandatory you pay. You can negotiate anything both of you agree to. But those costs are usually paid by you.
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Martin Q. Blank
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8:05a, 6/9/25
You don't need attorneys. Attorneys for TREC have already made the contract. You just need to fill in the relevant information.
One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale)
https://www.trec.texas.gov/agency-information/contracts

Call a local title company and tell them what you're doing. They'll probably explain things in the TREC contract if you have questions.

1. Parties - easy
2. Property - look up Lot/Block/Addition on your county appraisal district website.
3. Sales price - cash, loan, total - easy
4. Leases? Leave blank if none.
5. Earnest money - usually 1% of sales price, delivered to title company that you contacted above, option fee $100.
(1) no additional earnest money
B. 10 day option period.
6. Seller usually pays for title policy.
A(8) I always choose (ii) to amended the survey coverage at buyer's expense (it's cheap)
C Does buyer want a new survey? Depends on how old it is.
D objections within 3 days of receiving commitment. Buyer probably won't even read it anyway.
E(2) HOA?
7. Fill out seller's disclosure and give to buyer.
D(1) Buyer accepts the property as is.
H Seller providing warranty contract?
9. Closing date?
10. Lease back?
22. Third party financing addendum - fill out separately.
Any other relevant addendums? Temporary lease, lead based paint (how old is the house?), coastal property?


Send it in to the title company.
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to kyle field 94 • 12:17p, 6/9/25
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AG
Almost every single time anyone has asked me to look over a contract where the other party "doesn't have representation", when I look over the contract, it's very clear someone helped them. One time when a seller told me that they had agreed on price and no minerals to convey, I looked at the contract and the seller was about to sign to give away 100% of his minerals.

For situations where we are engaged to help draw up the contract like you're asking, between amicable parties with no other representation in place, we typically charge each side $500.

Happy to help if you'd like. My cell is in my profile and you can DM me also.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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Heineken-Ashi
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In reply to Red Pear Realty • 12:32p, 6/9/25
Red Pear Realty said:
Almost every single time anyone has asked me to look over a contract where the other party "doesn't have representation", when I look over the contract, it's very clear someone helped them. One time when a seller told me that they had agreed on price and no minerals to convey, I looked at the contract and the seller was about to sign to give away 100% of his minerals.

For situations where we are engaged to help draw up the contract like you're asking, between amicable parties with no other representation in place, we typically charge each side $500.

Happy to help if you'd like. My cell is in my profile and you can DM me also.
This is an insanely fair offer.
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Waiting on a Natty
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In reply to Heineken-Ashi • 1:49p, 6/9/25
AG
I agree.

I would be willing to pay 1% of the purchase price for you to select the title company, get the closing scheduled and prepare the contract. Plus get the earnest money to the closing agent.

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kyle field 94
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In reply to Red Pear Realty • 5:06p, 6/9/25
AG
Red Pear Realty said:
Almost every single time anyone has asked me to look over a contract where the other party "doesn't have representation", when I look over the contract, it's very clear someone helped them. One time when a seller told me that they had agreed on price and no minerals to convey, I looked at the contract and the seller was about to sign to give away 100% of his minerals.

For situations where we are engaged to help draw up the contract like you're asking, between amicable parties with no other representation in place, we typically charge each side $500.

Happy to help if you'd like. My cell is in my profile and you can DM me also.


Thanks for the offer. I will keep you updated as we progress along and if we get to an agreement and need your expertise.

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stallion6
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In reply to Red Pear Realty • 6:18p, 6/15/25
AG
Red Pear Realty said:
Almost every single time anyone has asked me to look over a contract where the other party "doesn't have representation", when I look over the contract, it's very clear someone helped them. One time when a seller told me that they had agreed on price and no minerals to convey, I looked at the contract and the seller was about to sign to give away 100% of his minerals.

For situations where we are engaged to help draw up the contract like you're asking, between amicable parties with no other representation in place, we typically charge each side $500.

Happy to help if you'd like. My cell is in my profile and you can DM me also.
As a realtor, how do you manage the risk when doing this? Think like conflict of interest since being paid by both parties, unauthorized practice of law, etc. Seems risky to act as an administrative agent.
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to stallion6 • 7:39p, 6/15/25
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Texas allows for intermediary transactions, so as the broker, I assign each side to a different Red Pear agent to complete the transaction. The legal risk in any transaction from our end is primarily on the sales side, but three of us have masters degrees in real estate from A&M and all of us have at least one degree from A&M, and we are doing more volume than the average agent, so I have a great deal of trust in my agents. Finally, since I own the company, and don't have to pay big kickbacks to Zillow or the big brokerage franchises, our cost is lower than the average agents as well. Zillow can charge as much as 25% for their referrals. Instead of paying that to our competitor (that's Zillow), we give it back to the consumer in the form of discounted pricing. Essentially, we are operating on the Walmart or Target volume model, and make more than the average agents that way. (I LOVE it when agents start getting snooty about how we "only" charge 1.5% to sell a home in a normal transaction).

Finally, I'll take a moment to brag on our agents. At Red Pear, we have agents with:

-Three masters of real estate degrees from A&M
-A doctor of physical therapy (she only treats 2-3 patients a week now because she makes more doing brokerage and home building than being a physical therapist)
-An MBA
-At least two business honors students
-9 total degrees from A&M between us
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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Yesterday
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In reply to Red Pear Realty • 8:55p, 6/15/25
AG
Red Pear Realty said:
Almost every single time anyone has asked me to look over a contract where the other party "doesn't have representation", when I look over the contract, it's very clear someone helped them. One time when a seller told me that they had agreed on price and no minerals to convey, I looked at the contract and the seller was about to sign to give away 100% of his minerals.

For situations where we are engaged to help draw up the contract like you're asking, between amicable parties with no other representation in place, we typically charge each side $500.

Happy to help if you'd like. My cell is in my profile and you can DM me also.



How does anyone with an above 9th grade level education not understand that they're giving away their minerals?

To the OP, I'd find a real estate attorney and a title company to do the closing. Have done this on 5 different properties.
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to Yesterday • 9:44p, 6/15/25
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AG
For the same reason that I had a seasoned developer send me the most insanely jacked up contract that I've ever seen last week -- both didn't understand the contract.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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Know1
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11:32a, 6/17/25
AG
Just had a conversation with someone last night who had an attorney sign off on a contract. Only problem was it's not even the correct one to use. All attorneys, like agents, are not created equally.
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Agilaw
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In reply to Know1 • 9:13a, 6/18/25
AG
Never use an attorney for a real estate matter who doesn't have significant experience in the field: contracts, closings, licensed agent/broker, litigation of real estate disputes, title review, etc.
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Deats99
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In reply to SteveBott • 10:20p, 6/23/25
AG
SteveBott said:
Both of you should get their own attorney. Yes it might not be necessary right now but both of you will be better off.

BTW the costs you mentioned are not mandatory you pay. You can negotiate anything both of you agree to. But those costs are usually paid by you.


As an agent for three and lender for 22 years. I will tell you Bott speaks the truth. The lawyer money will be the best you ever spend, the realtor will be the most wasted.
A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.
-George S Patton
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Deats99
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10:28p, 6/23/25
AG
Notice I didn't solicit your business to draw up a contract and manage the transaction for money, practicing law as an agent or broker is illegal……
A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.
-George S Patton
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to Deats99 • 11:02p, 6/23/25
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If you think drawing up a contract as a broker is practicing law, you're mistaken. Not sure how you could not understand that with 25 years in the industry. Or maybe you're just salty we don't send clients your way?
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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Agilaw
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8:28a, 6/24/25
AG
If by "draw up a contract" he means compiling the information for the transaction and creating a contract to paper the transaction - he is correct. That would be practicing law. If he means filling in pre-printed TREC forms to paper the transaction - you would be correct. Most residential transactions can be handled with TREC forms and a good realtor/broker is certainly worth using in such a transaction. If the transaction has unique aspects that aren't covered by the proposed transaction - a real estate attorney can handle modifications to the TREC form or create a custom contract. Advice - unless you are in the real estate field - don't try to go it alone in buying/selling real estate. Get a real estate Broker and/or Attorney to give professional guidance.

One item in the residential side of real estate that I see lacking is a thorough review of the title commitment. A real estate broker/agent cannot give advice on the title commitment, so the commitment is simply accepted as is and the transaction closed with no adequate review of the commitment. Things in a title commitment are important and - in my opinion - should be reviewed by a real estate attorney.

On the commercial side, I would always consult a real estate attorney and have a customized contract prepared.
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to Agilaw • 10:31a, 6/24/25
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Agilaw said:
One item in the residential side of real estate that I see lacking is a thorough review of the title commitment. A real estate broker/agent cannot give advice on the title commitment, so the commitment is simply accepted as is and the transaction closed with no adequate review of the commitment. Things in a title commitment are important and - in my opinion - should be reviewed by a real estate attorney.


I completely agree. By law, I can't give any advice or counsel on the title commitment to my clients, even if I know something is concerning. The best I can do legally is say "you should talk to an attorney about this".

Another example. Legally, I can't say things like "Paragraph 16 (or whatever) of the One to Four Family contract sucks and you should strike it." Telling clients things, even if it's in their best interest, could get me in trouble if it crosses the line into practicing law as TREC defines it.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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