Hope Teller

Key Takeaways Maryland’s Critical Area is a 1,000-foot buffer around the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries — development, landscaping, and impervious surface coverage are strictly regulated within this zone. Properties within the Critical Area are subject to special landscaping requirements: significant tree removal requires permits, and replanting requirements apply even for storm damage. Buyers of […]

Key Takeaways A land contract (installment sale contract or contract for deed) is a seller-financing arrangement where the seller retains legal title until the buyer completes all payments. The buyer takes equitable title and possession but the deed is not transferred until the contract is fully paid — default can result in the buyer losing

Key Takeaways A seller’s net sheet is a one-page estimate of the seller’s proceeds after deducting all costs: agent commission, title and settlement fees, transfer taxes, prorated property taxes, and any payoffs. Request a net sheet early in the listing process — it shows how much equity is actually available and avoids surprises at closing

Key Takeaways An ALTA Settlement Statement is an itemized breakdown of every fee in a real estate transaction, designed for agents and brokers on both sides. There are four ALTA forms: Combined (both parties), Cash (cash deals), Settlement (buyer side), and Seller’s Closing Statement. Since 2015 the Closing Disclosure (CD) replaced the HUD-1 for buyer-side