Expert, localized Los Angeles answers provided by Heather Roy

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Her Bid in First

  My original bid in on Oct. 8th. They never responded, wanted to reassess house. Assessment done,
I was asked nov. 25 to place final bid, I signed
purchasing contract. Another bid came in on same day . A verbal commitment was done to me and I handed over signed contract by me.
We now have a bidding war. Do they have a legal responsibility to tell me what the other party'ss bid is? Does my original offer not place me at an earlier time because they never counter offered.?
Help
 
  The first bid in doesn't have any priority, and sellers are free to deal with any offer they choose until they've signed an acceptance.  The oral commitment you received doesn't commit them to anything, because where the sale of real estate is concerned, nothing is binding unless it's in writing.  And to top it off, they don't have to reveal the amount of other offers if they don't want to.  Sorry, but that's the way it is, all around.
    Edith
Originally published on December 4, 2007
 
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