My employer relocated me to the South Florida area and provides for most of my relocation expenses. We've been renting for 5 months; our least goes until August 2014. We've started looking at houses and found a number of houses and neighborhoods we liked, but zeroed in on one neighborhood, and one model of house. We saw three, and it turns out the one we like the most (based on the inside) is a short sale.

The short sale house has the owners still living in it and in the process of moving out. Only one loan. The carpet will need to be replaced, and the owners stated they will be taking the washer, dryer, refrigerator, stove, and microwave. Odd. It is listed for 419 and they bought it in 2004 for 429 but refinanced it in 2006 for 500. The other two similar model houses cost 463 and 469, but we liked this one best.

My relocation plan will pay for the inspection, and any future inspections if all falls through, and will also pay the title costs. They will not for an attorney since that is not a customary charge in Florida. I found an attorney who is also a title agent; he said he was OK not being paid as an attorney if he got the title business.

For the house we like, the MLS says we must use the seller's title agent. Our attorney would then charge $1500, which I've heard is steep. Our real estate agent says we may not need an attorney. My relocation company says it is my choice, but since it is not customary, they will not pay for a separate attorney, only the title costs.

My realtor has drawn up a contract. But most likely, the seller side will change

1) Should I still use an attorney, and if so, when should my attorney review the contract - now, or after we hear back from the sellers?

2) Who pays for THEIR title agent, me, the buyer, or them, the seller?

3) Should I do the inspection quick, especially considering that my relcation plan is paying for it, and they will pay for more with other houses if needed?

4) Since my relocation will pay for the inspection, and any inspections I need later, should I go for the inspection ASAP.

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Probably not needed to have an attorney review your contract in Florida.  The contracts are boiler plate.   Depending on what is customary in your area, seller or buyer may pay title.  Most banks will cover the sellers title fees in a short sale.  I am in Bay County FL and seller pays title but if you go one county away, it is customary for buyer to pay title.

YES do an inspection!  ALWAYS!

Agreed with Jeff.  Regardless of who customarily pays for title in your county (your agent can tell you) the listing will probably designate the title co. as they have to cooperate on the short sale process, or may actually be handling the short sale negotiations.  Find your own buyer's agent if you don't already have one.  They should know what to look for when looking at a potential short sale property.  Feel free to ask questions here as you go along.

Thank you all for the suggestions. We are in Miami-Dade county now and the property is in Broward County.

The attorney I had been talking to lowered is fee for us and so we're using him. He has a lot of experience with real estate and owns his own title company. Who knows if he bills me as title work, my relocation plan might just pay for it.

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