Frequently Asked Questions

Ohana Legacy Properties is trained and certified in the Probate process, and we are registered with the United States Probate Service (www.usprobateservices.org). We can work with Executors, Personal Representatives and Probate Attorneys to help with the maze of decisions and give you honest, straight forward probate real estate choices.

Ohana Legacy Properties are easy to work with. We work within the customers’ timeline, and we can usually close as fast as 10 days.

An escrow is a term that refers to a neutral third party hired to handle the exchange of money, property transaction, and related documents. The escrow holds the money and documents in a trust until all terms and conditions of the sale are satisfied. When depositing earnest money, it is wise to use an escrow account.

Since we buy properties in as-is condition you can leave whatever items you do not want behind. So if you have odds & ends that you haven’t touched for the last 5 years and have no plans to, we will take care of it. In most cases we either donate or dispose of any unwanted or garbage items.

Early spring and summer, especially June, is a great time to sell a home. Research shows that home sales in May, June, July, and August account for 40% of total annual sales volume.

Overall, home sales are still pretty good through early fall, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to sell a home during this period, either. However, home sales drop once winter hits. January is the worst time to sell a home, as market activity is much lower.

That’s up to you! For sure, home shopping is easier today than ever before. The ability to search for homes online and see pictures, even before setting a foot outside the comfort of your living room, has completely changed the home buying game. Convenience is at an all-time high. But, nothing beats visiting a home to see how it looks and ‘feels’ in person.

Your home’s assessed value and market value are each determined by different factors. Buyers and sellers affect the market value of a home, while professional appraisers calculate the assessed value. In a seller’s market, your home’s market value may be higher than its assessed value. That’s because buyers are willing to pay more than the home is technically worth because of low inventory. In a buyer’s market, you’ll be facing a lot of competition from other sellers, so buyers may put in an offer lower than the home’s assessed value.

Yes, but you may lose earnest money (basically, a security deposit given to the seller upon signing a contract).

You can also face legal consequences if you back out of the agreement for a reason not outlined in the purchase agreement. This document outlines important details, such as repairs the seller is responsible for and contingencies of the real estate deal.

However, there are certain scenarios where breaking a purchase agreement is understandable. If you lose your job, can’t sell your current home, or can’t get approved for a mortgage, it’s best to wait until you reach financial stability before buying.

Other issues with the home, such as a failed home inspection, unrepaired problems, or difficulty with transferring the title, are also acceptable reasons to back out of an agreement.

As it is with the home buying process itself, it is essential you understand what a short sale is before getting yourself involved with it. A short sale is one in which a homeowner sells their house for a price that is less than the amount still owed on the mortgage. It can be regarded as a ‘distressed sale’ carried out when the current market value of a property is below the amount owed to a lender. The lender forgives the remaining balance of the loan.

The downside is that many short-sale properties are usually not in good condition. So, you must be patient and not in an immediate rush to move. Also, you can consider a foreclosure if it is still possible.

A foreclosure sometimes referred to as an REO, is a property that is owned by a lender.  If you’re considering the purchase of a foreclosure, it’s important to understand that most are sold “as-is.”  Foreclosures, if not purchased by an owner occupant, are often purchased by investors, fixed up, “flipped,” and sold to an owner occupant.

When buying a home, you have the option to perform several types of inspections. The purchase offer you write can be contingent upon a satisfactory home inspection, pest inspection, chimney inspection, radon test, and many other inspections. In most cases, it’s recommended that when buying a home, you at the bare minimum have a home inspection. There are home inspection findings that are more common than others, however, no two homes are the same so it’s a great idea to get the home inspected.

An earnest money deposit is also frequently referred to as a good faith deposit.  When a buyer purchases a home, they provide the seller’s real estate company a deposit to hold in their escrow account.  The primary purpose of this deposit is to show a seller you are serious about purchasing their home.  The amount that is deposited is subtracted from the final figure that a buyer pays at the closing table.  In most cases, the larger the deposit, the stronger a purchase offer looks to a seller.

Ohana Legacy Properties eliminates a major barrier to moving to senior living – selling the home. By purchasing the home outright for cash in weeks rather than the average 3- to 6-month realtor model, we help drive occupancy and revenue by shortening your sales cycle.

Buying or selling a home can be a stressful, emotional situation for anyone. For seniors, who have lived in their homes for much of their lives, this time can be especially hard. Knowing that a real estate agent has worked with many other buyers and sellers in similar situations can offer needed peace of mind and comfort during what is certain to be a difficult experience for a senior. Don’t be afraid to find out how much experience your Ohana Legacy Properties specialist has before moving forward with your transaction.

As you prepare for or perhaps have already entered your retirement years, you may be considering moving out of your current home. Perhaps you want to retire to a warmer climate or move closer to your grandchildren, or simply want to downsize into a smaller and more manageable property. Maybe you dream of relaxing in a retirement community surrounded by friends and hobbies. Regardless, you’ve likely questioned whether now is a good time to sell your house. Is it a buyer’s market? Will you get the most value possible? Should you wait a bit longer?   

These concerns are completely understandable, and actually typically exist for any homeowner, regardless of age, regardless of the economy. But it just so happens that right now is actually an excellent time to sell your house. Let’s discuss why.

When you sell your home during retirement, you will no longer be responsible for paying a mortgage. You won’t have to pay the property taxes, insurance, repairs, or maintenance costs of owning a home. You will incur new types of expenses like rent, renters insurance, and pet deposits/rent, but you will have a large influx of capital from the sale of your home to help cover these costs.

If there is no durable power of attorney for finances and the parent is incompetent and therefore unable to execute a POA, then the caregiver must petition for guardianship to sell the home. Petitioning for guardianship involves certifying that an individual (known as the ward) is incapacitated and would benefit from the appointment of a legal guardian to manage their personal and property interests.

Depending on the terms of guardianship, this often includes the legal authorization to sell the ward’s real property. Guardianship can be a long, expensive, and emotional process, though, and is only a viable option in cases where an elder lacks the mental capacity to make informed decisions for themselves.

Probate property is a property that has been inherited by someone through the probate process. Probate is the legal process of distributing a person’s estate after they die, and typically includes the sale of any real estate owned by the deceased. We’ll help you sell your house fast, even if it’s a probate property. We’re experienced in buying probate properties and can close quickly, often within two weeks.

Seeing a loved one go through a difficult health battle can be heartbreaking. We understand that you may need to sell your house quickly to pay for senior care. We can help by making you a cash offer for your house and closing on the sale quickly.

Inheriting a property can be a blessing or a curse. If you find yourself in a situation where you have inherited a property that you don’t want to keep, we can help. Our experts will work with you to understand your situation and make you a cash offer for the property.

There are a few key ways that cash buyers are better than realtors when it comes to selling your house. First, we can make you a cash offer for your house within 24 hours of receiving your information. Second, we can close on the sale of your house in as little as two weeks. And third, we will take care of all the paperwork and hassle associated with selling your house.

Property damage from storms can be devastating. If your property has been damaged by a storm, we may still be interested in making you an offer. We will work with you to assess the damage and make you a cash offer for your property.

Real Estate Senior Transition Specialists have the knowledge, experience, and resources to help you sell your parent’s home quickly and efficiently. They will also be sensitive to the fact that this may be a difficult time for your family and will work to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. If you are selling your parent’s home in Katy, Texas, reach out to Ohana Legacy Properties. We are a local and family-owned business with years of experience helping seniors downsize and transition to their next phase of life.

You can sell your Probate house fast in Texas by working with a Probate and Senior Transitional Real Estate Specialist. They will be able to help you through the entire process and make it as seamless as possible. When you work with Ohana Legacy Properties, we will buy your Probate house as-is, so you don’t have to make any repairs. We will also close on your home fast, usually within 10-14 days.

If your house needs repairs, it’s important to get a few estimates from reputable companies. Once you have an idea of the cost of the repairs, you can decide whether it’s worth fixing up the house or selling it as-is. If the cost of repairs is more than the house is worth, selling it to companies that buy houses as-is in Houston, TX may be your best option. That’s where companies like Ohana Legacy Properties can help. We will buy your house as-is, so you don’t have to worry about making any repairs.

Some challenges you may face when selling your parent’s home include hiring and paying agent’s fees, repairs, showings, and even delays in the selling process. That’s where legitimate cash buyers in Texas, such as Ohana Legacy Properties, can help. Our Real Estate Senior Transition Specialists have the experience and resources to help you through every step of the process. We’ll buy your parents’ house as-is, so you don’t have to worry about making any repairs. And we can close quickly, so you can get the money you need and move on with your life.

There is no cost to work with our Senior Transition Specialists. We will come to your home for a free consultation and provide you with a fair, all-cash offer. If you accept our offer, we will move forward with the sale and take care of all the paperwork and closing costs. You won’t have to pay any fees or commissions.