When relocating to job overseas, home closing can be figured out
Q: I’m selling my house and moving overseas to a new job assignment. My wife has to go with me for a variety of reasons. How can I do this and close my house?
A: Not to worry. All title companies are familiar with handling these situations. You both can sign a durable power of attorney for someone to exercise the right to sign for you. You can fly back for the closing. You can close by mail, but be sure you have access to a U.S. consulate in the new country. Keep your title company in the loop and everything will go smoothly.
Q: We attended a closing to buy a new house. The couple selling the house were getting a divorce and things got pretty ugly. The husband grabbed the closer’s file and just left. Nobody knows where he went or what he did with the file. What do I do now?
A: Hang in there. This is theft, pure and simple. There’s obviously another agenda here, but they do have an obligation to sell the property to you. The title company can file criminal charges and have the man arrested. It’s like people who die before a closing. Anything can be overcome and there are several avenues to pursue. The answer may lie in the divorce court.
Q: I listed my house with a prominent Realtor, but never got a showing, and no contract. Other agents have told me that it is listed at too high a price and they will not show it. I really trusted this Realtor. Did she mess this up?
A: Did you see comparable sales in your neighborhood when you listed it? Were you asking a higher price than any sales in the neighborhood?
Were you hoping to set the highest price in the neighborhood? There’s a lot of strategy in setting an asking price for your home. Visit with your Realtor again and see if a more realistic asking price may be in order.
To send a question visit www.AskGeorge.net and select the “Ask A Question” button. Answers to questions do not contain legal advice. If you wish to obtain legal advice, you should consult your own attorney. George Stephens is the broker of Stephens Properties. Charles J. Jacobus, J.D. is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Residential and Commercial Real Estate Law.