First, we identify the people who write the documents. They are as follows:

Table 1---Types of Real Estate Documents

14a Purchase Agreements	Boards of Realtors and Title Insurance Companies
14b Land Contracts
15a Deeds	members of Real Property Law Section of State Bar of Michigan
15b Easements
16. Leases
17a Notes 17b Mortgages	Federal National Mortgage Corporation/Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FNMA/FHLMC)

Second, we find people in the these groups who have the interest, ability, and courage to write these documents in plain English. And we ask them to join us to work in an organized way from within the system to eliminate legalese from these documents.

Table 2--Plain English Subcommittee on Real Estate

John Rohe	private practitioner in Petoskey, Mi.
Greg Ulrich	Cummings, McCorey

Third, our subcommittee then finds clear examples of real estate documents, gives them Clarity Awards, and promotes them as good examples to follow. Below are some excerpts from some of the documents that we consider to be written clearer than most real estate documents.

Terms: Balance of _______________Dollars ($________) will be paid as follows: cash or certified funds in full at the time of closing. This contract is contingent upon Purchaser qualifying for and obtaining a mortgage commitment as designated below for which Purchaser agrees to apply within _______ business days and pursue in good faith upon acceptance of this contract. Unmarked terms of purchase do not apply. THIS FINANCING CONTINGENCY TO BE REMOVED IN WRITING ON OR BEFORE (date)________________.