The recurring, high-stakes questions Massachusetts buyers ask before an offer — open permits, condo documents, septic systems — explained with citations to the actual statutes and regulations, not just a listing agent's summary.
Each guide is evergreen — it covers a recurring Massachusetts-specific question rather than one property — with a table of contents, a sources section, and an FAQ. For research on a specific address, see the town-by-town guides or run a sample report.
In Massachusetts, a signed offer is a binding contract — which means the checking has to happen before you sign it, not in the ten days after.
Read the guide →An open permit means a building inspector never signed off on the work — and neither your home inspector nor your title insurer will chase it down for you.
Read the guide →A condo purchase is really two purchases: the unit, and a fractional stake in the association that runs it. The paperwork tells you which one you're actually buying.
Read the guide →If a Massachusetts property isn't on public sewer, state law requires an independent septic inspection before the sale can close — and the result can swing the deal.
Read the guide →Nearly every Massachusetts home sale needs a fire-department smoke and carbon monoxide certificate. It's the seller's job to pass it — but a failed inspection is your closing that slips.
Read the guide →Since October 15, 2025 a seller can't make you give up your home inspection to win the deal. You can still choose to skip one — and the inspection you're guaranteed covers less than most buyers assume.
Read the guide →Public records can reveal insurance red flags, but only a carrier can bind coverage. Here is what to screen, what to ask, and what to put in front of an insurer before your contractual exits close.
Read the guide →This section covers the highest-stakes, most-asked pre-offer questions first. It will grow alongside the town guides and sample reports as more Massachusetts-specific topics get the same sourced treatment.
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