Real estate law question.

[TNDemo]

There is a house here that is overpriced and has been on the market for almost three months. The owners have already moved into a much, much more expensive home (dad died). I have a feeling their real estate contract on the house for sale is about to come up for renewal. I went through the house when it had an open house when it first came on the market. Can't remember if I signed the sign in sheet or not. We were wondering if it was legal for us to contact the owner and tell them to call us if they have no deal when the contract ends and we will give them an offer (lowball). It seems like when we sold a house before there was a clause in the contract that no one that was introduced to the property through our agent could buy the house for six months or something. It may have just been specific to our contract. Anyway, what is the law regarding this?

[Xithras]

1. There's no such law in Cali

There's nothing obligating you to purchase through either your agent or theirs unless you specifically signed a contract agreeing to do so.

[Wcross]

2. Seller pays the commision.

What would it matter to you? It will be on the seller. Be honest with them about the situation but don't worry about it, you have no contract with anybody.

[TNDemo]

4. It would knock about $20,000 off the price

and make it more attractive to the seller.

[kevinam]

3. Probably not so much a law question...

as a contract question. I would imagine the answer lies somewhere in the contract signed between the agent and seller. Still you have the issue of how the family would take to a lowball offer. If you are serious about the house, you should just go ahead and submit your lowball offer. Sometimes people get offended by real low offers, so it might be better through an agent. If the house is that over priced, then the agent might smooth things over. You might get a counter offer that isn't all bad. Good luck with it...Kevin.