IMO, a realtor is there to find buyers, not the legal paperwork. The realor isn't worth a lot of money for the legal stuff because the realtor, at least in my experience, doesn't actually do a lot of the legal paperwork. In my cases, the realtor(s) just filled in the standard TREC (Texas) home buying contract based on verbal feedback from all parties and once all signatures were on there, this was handed to a title company that took care of the rest (coordination with bank, deed, recordings, closing). If I was planning on FSBO (only in a strong sellers market), I would: * Search the net for a standard home buying contract. Only if that comes from a reputable source (like TREC in TX; which was used by all the realtors that I ever dealt with) and if it is written in clear language would I use it w/o an attorney. Otherwise I'd look up a real estate attorney in your state to get a good contract. * search for a title company and ask them what the info is they need to proceed after a contract has been signed. * market the house (this is where a good realtor is valuable) * after negotiating the sale and the contract is signed, contact the title company again and let them handle the rest.

If I were you, I think that, if it's not a major operation, I'd check the house to see whether it's in use. Do you know with whom the original deal was struck? It might be interesting to know whether whoever lives there now is the same people ... and if not, what transpired in the meantime. If you and your brother get along reasonably well, I think it best to talk to him about where things stand at present. If the house was actually sold, or a definite contract for such done while your mother was alive, it'll be binding in almost all cases - as long as the original contract is operational. But such a deal with a later buyer would likely not be, if it took place after your mother's death, I think that you'll find. The more precise information about the situation that you can present to the lawyer, and preferably in writing, for easy filing on his part, at your initial interview, the lower the (rather expensive) costs that you'll incur. Try to have some specific ideas of what you want to know, as well ... and the lawyer will have a number of things to suggest. Make a note of what they are: will he allow you to record your session, as there'll almost certainly be things that took place there that you need to know but will forget. If not, make a few notes while with him/her, and fill them out more completely immediately after the interview. Do you happen to know someone in your state who's been through a similar situation? It might be a good idea to encourage them to share some information with you (without offering more than rather sketchy information about your situation - enough to get the pump primed, shall we say - if that is your preference). ole joyful

I personally moved from one of the highest tax areas to one of the lowest tax areas and my total cost of living is roughly the same. THANK YOU, bry! Yes, Texas has no state income tax, but the property tax / school tax rate is ridiculous. The bottom line is that there is no free lunch. Services cost money. Schools, infrastructure, police / fire / services, etc - all that money has to come from somewhere and if you are attracting businesses by cutting the corporate tax rate, it ultimately ends up falling on the "middle class" that don't have the ability to shelter their wealth and legally maneuver things to adapt to a changing tax code. Live where you will be HAPPY. If you are considering a snowy / cold area, I grew up on the Finger Lakes in NY - it's lovely. As long as you don't need a LOCAL job - it can be awesome in the summer, and close to skiing, etc in the fall. But it's still depressing there and there's a growing opiod epidemic in a LOT of these places....

Kaillean, if you thought Harper was too socially conservative, you must admit Trudeau is more-so. Harper wouldn't touch on the subject of abortions, even though the media tried to goad him. He only said that it's not a political issue, which he's correct. Trudeau is allowing illegal immigrants to come here no questions asked, and right away they get free health-care and free rent, as Louise AB mentioned. This has created a surge in border-crossing agents required to "assist" the ones crossing at non-checkpoints coming in from the U.S. They're taking away the security guards from major airports like Toronto so that they can go to the border. I do say "illegal" immigrants deliberately because, a couple of months ago I was speaking to a fellow who emigrated here from Europe decades ago. He said that Immigration Law specifically states that "you must settle in the first safe country you come to." These people are coming in from the U.S. to Canada, where they get preferential treatment. Trudeau is encouraging this, instead of slowing it or stopping it, and we have our own Canadians who are having trouble finding places to rent, and don't get coverage they need health-wise.