In this video, our Polk County Real Estate attorneys discuss the basics of an Iowa real estate contract. Once the purchase contract has been signed you’ll need to schedule an inspection and then you will enter into the attorney review period which, if you didn’t look over it in detail before, is a good time to review the contract. Below we’ll talk about seven clauses of particular importance when reviewing the contract.

1. Description and Purchase Price

2. Real Estate Taxes and Special Assessment

3. Time is of the Essence and Fixtures Clause

4. Condition of the Property

5. Remedies of the Parties

6. Residential Property Disorder Statement

7. Optional Provisions

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In this video, our Polk County real estate attorneys explain how it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the foreclosure process in Iowa before making any important decisions. Federal law requires that a borrower be delinquent on their loan for at least 120 days before the foreclosure process is initiated. For example, if a borrower were to miss two mortgage payments, but then pay the costs of those two months, plus any other late fees, and continue to be up to date on their payments, the borrower would avoid foreclosure.

In this video, our Polk County Real Estate attorneys describe what a tenant can do if your landlord doesn’t make necessary repairs to your resident. While withholding rent is a potential remedy, it is not recommended. Failing to pay rent because your landlord doesn’t make repairs to your residence is dangerous and risky. The landlord may evict you, leaving you homeless. While you can take the case to court, you do not know whether a judge will agree that the problem with the residence was so bad that you had the right to withhold rent. However, it is illegal for a landlord to refuse to make necessary repairs or to shut off utilities because a tenant is simply behind on rent. Under the Iowa Landlord Tenant act, tenants can do a number of different things when repairs are necessary to keep the property safe and in habitable condition. Some remedies may not be an option for tenants who cannot afford to do repairs or aren’t able to find other housing options. Some steps a tenant may take when a landlord fails to make repairs include:

• Making repairs yourself then deducting the cost from rent
• Ending the lease and moving out
• Call the housing inspector to make a complaint.