1.   My real estate broker is urging me to use a particular title company for the home I'm buying. Is that a good idea?

Most realtors like to refer their sales to one or two title companies because they have a close relationship with them and know the title company will protect them if problems arise. These are usually "assembly line" operations that lack the time or interest to give personal attention to the person paying them—you! If problems come up during the settlement process, don't expect them to be looking out for you first.

2.   I signed a contract to buy a house that needs some repair. In discussions with the seller, he agreed to fix a few things and replace others, but nothing is in writing. Also, the contract calls for settlement in 45 days, but he said he'll give me a little extra time if I need it. Can I hold him to those promises?

Not legally. All terms in a real estate contract must be in writing to be enforceable. You need to put these things in writing and get the seller to sign off on them, as soon as possible.

3.   I got an offer to buy my home, but the buyer only wants to put $1000 down, and he wants the right to cancel the contract if the appraisal comes in too low. Should I be concerned?

This has all the signs of a financially strapped buyer who probably can't qualify for the loan he'll need to buy your house. You may end up taking it off the market while the buyer is trying to find a lender who will work with him, and when his loan falls through, you'll have accomplished nothing. Well-qualified buyers should be able to put up a deposit of 3-5% of the purchase price with their offer. Then if they try to back out without justification, you can look to the deposit for protection against any losses.

4.   I put in a contract on a property and the seller wrote in something that said the property is being sold "as is". What does that mean?

This means that you are accepting the property in its present condition, and if you find a problem after you moved in, the seller can't be held responsible. The only exception would be a hidden defect that the seller knows about but fails to disclose to you. That's why it's important to have an experienced home inspector go through the property with you and point out things that you might not be aware of as potential problems in the future. If the inspector finds something that is unacceptable to you, you can try and get the seller to take responsibility or back out of the contract if he won't.