Definitely can... especially if both parties know each other.

For others in house hunting, if going diy, get to understand the whole process first.

For both seller and buyer, get to know who you will appoint as your lawyer. Or you can elect to have the same lawyer. Ask friends/relatives for recommendations. Make a visit to the lawyer's office, get to know the lawyer and ask some questions on legal fees, what documents the seller have to submit, etc.

For buyer, get to know your financial first before house hunting and how much loan you can get. Approach a bank nearby, the loan officer may know the area and how much loan they can approve on the house/condo. You may have to do the legwork again after signing the s&p. The s&p will state the length of time to get the loan and complete the transaction. It will also state the penalties and late charges.

To make it more simple, as a seller, don't take booking fees. If the buyer is really serious, make appointment at the lawyer office to begin the process. The lawyer will draw up some documents and the buyer should straight away give 10% as 1st payment to the lawyer.

How would you get the homeowner's phone number? He could be from another town or currently abroad... that's why he listed the house with agent.

He could oso be a very private/shy person and don't like meeting people, hence he hired an agent to handle the sale.

Without agent, use the lawyer as the middle man. Once the selling price is reached, the next step is meeting at the lawyer's office.

Buyer will hand over a sum of money to the lawyer as 1st payment, to begin the S&P process. Lawyer will give some documents to initiate the bank loan. Bank will still need the S&P to finalize the house loan. EPF too will need the S&P for house withdrawal.

The next step is signing the S&P once it is ready, usually about 2 weeks. Buyer and seller can sign it separately.

If remembered correctly, the handover of keys and final full payment is about 2-3 months at the lawyer's office. The cheque is made out by the lawyer to the seller.

For buyer, if afraid of scam, take a bank loan even if you can afford to pay in cash. The bank will verify all the documents before approving the house loan. This why it takes time for the house loan.

Never? It depends on what property, what is at stake.

You do have to have a lawyer to do all the paperwork in a house loan. It's unlike a h/p loan in purchasing a car where you can deal only with the loan officer.

Of course you have to have a lawyer to do the sale and purchase agreement.

Without an agent and only the lawyer, and if still afraid of lawyer in cahoots with the house seller, then you bring in another party - a bank.

The bank pays upfront at least 90% of the house, not you the buyer.

Actually in engaging lawyers, it can be the house seller who tumpang the buyer's lawyer.

This post has been edited by ScooterBoi: Jul 16 2025, 09:44 PM