Do the Due: A Complete Due Diligence Guide and Checklist for Homebuyers

Buying a house is exciting, but before you get carried away dreaming about how you’ll lay out your furniture, don’t forget: This is a legal transaction. As a buyer, that means you have to do your due diligence from both a practical and contractual perspective. What does due diligence mean in residential real estate? And how do buyers know if they’ve done it well? Cesi Pagano, a real estate agent with over 40 years of experience in Orange County, California, says, “It’s important that buyers look at every detail. Some people just focus on a home inspection and that’s not enough. A buyer really needs to get to know the home they’re purchasing, so that there are no regrets.” That’s why we’ve put together this guide to due diligence for a homebuyer. From area research to title research, we’ll walk you through the process — and provide you with a printable checklist as well. Free Homebuying Due Diligence Checklist Our due diligence checklist will help guide you along your journey toward homeownership, hitting all the big steps. What is due diligence in real estate? Due diligence refers to the buyer’s obligation to research the property and understand what they are purchasing before the ...