Anyone want to give Real Estate/Lawyer Advice?

I always come to this site for advice on wedding stuff as well as other stuff. There is a wealth of knowledge on here.....

So will anyone want to give me real estate/lawyer advice online tonight because I have an important decision to make by tonight.


We are buying a house straight from the owner. We got it inspected and found out that the ridge beam is rotted. Anyway we want to get it checked further but the woman now said she wont let anyone else come check the beam out until we put a $5000 refundable deposit to a lawyer. She is saying my lawyer should write it and can keep it. Is this legal? Is it usual? Should I do it? Does she have a loophole so it wouldn't be refundable? and How much is it to write one of these papers up? What is the point of it for her then?

Hi there,
We are right now in process of buying a 'for sale by owner' home also...although there is no real estate agency involved there should be an inspection by an engineer. That happens before you go to contract and give a deposit. Also, the deposit check we gave was written out to the sellers lawyer but their lawyer holds it in escorw until the sale is complete. And the contract is written up by the sellers attorney.
I hope this helps!!! The whole process is a completely slow torture!!! but it's worth it in the end!!!