Q. A friend offered to buy my house. We had a verbal agreement but the complete details were not put into the offer to purchase and I felt pressured to agree to a lower price than the market price and a closing date which is artificial since I don't actually have anywhere to go.
Not realizing that it is Sefira, I said we could meet on Sunday to finalize the deal. I have since found out that the market price is higher than offered and that one is not supposed to purchase a home during this period of time.
Do I have to agree to this?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that although one should always keep his word, if you did not sign anything or made any Kinyan or act of acquisition, in principle you are not obliged to keep a verbal agreement in case of need, as it is also not binding legally following the Laws of the Land.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
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