What if the seller makes a counteroffer?
The seller may accept your offer, or may cross out some of your terms and add new ones. Once the seller changes your offer in any way, it becomes a counteroffer, or a new offer, by the seller. Then you must decide if you want to accept the new offer or make another counteroffer of your own. You do not have to accept a new offer or a counteroffer. What do you need to get a mortgage? As soon as you and the seller have signed an offer or counter-offer, you should start to get a mortgage. Shop around to get the best terms, and promptly give the mortgage company any documents and information it needs. Usually, a mortgage company will need an appraisal of the house (that you have to pay for) before it promises to give you the mortgage. And it may need a survey certificate showing that the house is within the property boundaries, or “title insurance”, before the completion date (when the property transfers from the seller to you and you become the owner). Once you’ve arranged your financing,
