The standard residential contract of sale used by attorneys in the New York Metropolitan area will often state that the closing will take place, for example, “on or about December 1, 2018.”  In New York, unlike many other states, the “Closing Date” contained in the contract, especially if the words “on or about” precede it, is a fluid date.  It is rare that a closing actually occurs on the date specified in the contract. The phrase “on or about” has been interpreted by the New York courts to mean that either side has a reasonable period beyond the “on or about” date in which to close.

Most people obtain financing when purchasing a house, condo, or co-op.  In that case, the contract of sale will contain a mortgage contingency clause making the sale contingent upon the buyer obtaining a mortgage in a certain amount.  If the buyer's loan application is denied by the lending institution, the buyer can then cancel the contract and get the down payment back.

In order to benefit from the protections allowed by the mortgage contingency clause the buyer must strictly abide by all its terms, i.

Joint property ownership can be a great solution for people who want to own a home, especially for first-time buyers. But joint ownership can limit your rights and options -- not only while you own the property, but also when you want to transfer ownership to an heir or another buyer. There are three major forms of joint property ownership (or "concurrent ownership") -- tenancy in common, joint tenancy, and tenancy by the entirety.

Tenancy in common (sometimes called a "TIC") is the most popular form of concurrent property ownership.

On October 3, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new mortgage disclosure law, also known as the TRID went into effect. TRID will help consumers be more informed regarding the closing cost.

Here are11 things you should know about the new law:

1. Initial Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and Truth in Lending disclosure (TIL) are now combined into one new form called the Loan Estimate (LE).

2. Instead of the old forms such as the HUD-1 and Final TIL we now have the Closing Disclosure (CD).

Buyers and sellers involved in a residential or commercial real estate transaction have different issues and goals. The real estate contract or purchase agreement is the single most important document in the transaction. A well drafted contract that accurately reflects your interests and addresses potential problems is critical to a successful real estate transaction.  At the Law Office of Jeanne M. Reardon, we have more than 20 years of experience negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts.