[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by trekker954

I wasn't sure where to post this to get some insight into my recent purchase here in TV. Problem: I purchased a pre-owned home in June 2020 through the Villages Property using their title company. It was an open house so the realtor got his double commission. During this time, everything for me, a cash buyer (the seller owned the house outright which he bought in Feb. 2019) was to be done electronically including the closing documents, because of Covid. My closing costs seemed minimal. I was credited $1441 for 2020 Taxes from the seller. I am not using my homestead as I still have a home in South Florida for a few more months.

Fast forward to receiving my tax bill which was well over $5000. First I called the title company who said the value of my house increased and told me they used the sellers 2019 tax bill for me and he benefited from his sellers homestead for 2019. Lake County told me my seller had never applied for Homestead (he had a home in PA) so of course his taxes went up in January, but the Title company did not go to their website or call the office to make sure they had the correct estimated tax bill for the seller.

So of course the Title Co rep is no longer with the company but after checking they more or less admitted fault because they sent the seller a letter explaining the error in not collecting enough for me and kindly asked them to make a check out to me for $590 and send it to them and they would forward to me. Well, the seller told them to go pound sand that he felt he lost money on the deal as it was (as a snowbird, he lived in the house such a short time in 2019, and pretty much decided to sell it in February (although not listed until June) because of Covid.

The Title Company came back and said I could always get a lawyer and sue him. Yes thats what the Title Company said. I've never been to small claims court, but I'm assuming that is my only option and I have no idea how much that would cost and if I do have a case. I was copied on the letter the Title Company sent to the seller as well as his response. Does the realtor have any responsibility? He is aware as is his manager and they are supposedly still looking into how this happened.

Obviously who gets an attorney for such a small amount, but had the Title company applied the correct amount the seller would just have credited it the correct amount to me. If a suit is to be had, wouldn't I go after the Title Company. I'm just annoyed they were so lazy as not to call or go on the website to get the correct amount for the 2020 taxes. So I end up paying for my sellers taxes all year rather than just six month.

Have you escalated your complaint to top management at the Title Company? They probably don’t want to be sued.