Due Diligence

Find the problems while they're still the seller's.

Every property has a story, and some of it never makes the listing. Due diligence is where that story comes out, and it's where a lawyer's habits pay for themselves.

The Checklist

What gets vetted before you're committed

Title & survey. The commitment, its exceptions, easements, and encroachments, read line by line.
Liens, permits & code enforcement. Open permits, unpermitted work, municipal liens, and violations that follow the property.
HOA & condo documents. Budgets, reserves, special assessments, milestone inspection status, and approval requirements.
Zoning & use. What the property is actually allowed to be, which matters double for commercial and land deals.
Leases & estoppels. On income property, the leases you inherit are the asset. They get audited, not skimmed.
Insurance & flood exposure. Insurability questions surfaced early, before they surprise your lender.

Reviewing transaction documents line by line

Questions

Due diligence FAQs

What is due diligence in a real estate deal?

It's the window where you get to find out what you're really buying: the condition of the property, the state of the title, the obligations attached to it, and the restrictions on what you can do with it. Once the window closes, problems become yours.

What do you look at that a typical agent doesn't?

Most agents order the inspection and stop there. I read the title commitment and its exceptions, pull permit history, check for open code enforcement, review HOA and condo documents, and look at how the seller holds title, because each of those can quietly rewrite the value of the deal.

What happens if you find a problem?

Then the contract earns its keep. Depending on what we built into it, you renegotiate, require a cure, or walk with your deposit. If a problem needs legal firepower, like a lien fight or a title defect, Scheer Legal can be engaged separately to handle it.

Ready When You Are

Already under contract?

The diligence clock is running. Call me today and let's make the window count.

(305) 699-2161 dominic@inmogrp.com