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The good news is that bad credit doesn't automatically shut the door on homeownership, it just means you'll likely need to take a slightly different path to get there.

Yes, it is. Since July 1, 2024, Iowa law has required buyers to sign a written agreement with their real estate agent before that agent shows them a property.

If you're putting together an offer on a house and wondering whether you can skip the earnest money, the short answer is yes, technically. There's no law that says you have to include it. But in practice, an offer without earnest money is almost always turned down.

You can expect to pay somewhere in the range of 5.7% to 5.9% of your home's sale price in total realtor commission.

Making an offer on a house involves submitting a written proposal that includes your price and purchase terms for the seller to review.

Yes, you can back out from a purchase agreement, but what happens next depends on where you are in the process. 

No, homes are not usually inspected before listing. In most real estate transactions, the home inspection takes place after a buyer submits an offer and the seller accepts it. At that point, the buyer typically hires a professional inspector to evaluate the property's condition and identify any issues that may affect the purchase.

The answer is yes, you can make an offer on a house without a real estate agent in Iowa. While many buyers choose to work with an agent during the home buying process, state law does not require you to have one when submitting an offer. This means you can represent yourself and communicate directly with the seller or the seller's representative if you decide to do so.

The 3-3-3 rule means having three months of emergency savings, saving an additional three months' worth of mortgage payments, and getting three property evaluations before buying a home.

A bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership of personal property from the seller to the buyer.

Closing documents are the final legal papers signed during a real estate closing to complete the home sale and transfer ownership.

Buyers usually pay about 2% to 6% of the loan amount in closing costs, depending on the lender, loan type, and location.