Have you closed by mail?

[lovsthosebigdogs]

My husband and I had our Lifestyle visit last week and fell in love with TV. We found a new home and want to purchase it but will have to close by mail since we live so far away. This is very unnerving for me since everything on the news warns not to send money or wire transfer money to anyone. I realize TV is not a scam but I can't help but wonder, has anyone every closed on a new home from afar and how did they do it and how did it go? What do I need to know or be wary of, alert for or any tips? Someone PLEASE, allay my fears.

[skyguy79]

My husband and I had our Lifestyle visit last week and fell in love with TV. We found a new home and want to purchase it but will have to close by mail since we live so far away. This is very unnerving for me since everything on the news warns not to send money or wire transfer money to anyone. I realize TV is not a scam but I can't help but wonder, has anyone every closed on a new home from afar and how did they do it and how did it go? What do I need to know or be wary of, alert for or any tips? Someone PLEASE, allay my fears.We didn't buy new but rather preowned. We did everything from NY State. We worked with our TV agent and Citizens First and all processing was done by email, fax and express mail where necessary. Most was done electronically.

Any paperwork that didn't require original signatures were emailed to us to go through and sign or initial where required. We then fax'd the completed documents back. Both the agent and bank were very helpful and made things pretty easy for us. As for the wire transfer of funds, an instruction sheet was provided and the transfer went without a hitch!

Just as a side note, we were never even in TV until the day before we closed on our home.

[angiefox10]

I was nervous about the whole process because it's nothing like we do here in Illinois. But trust me these people have it down to a fine science and know exactly what they are doing! I'm no longer concerned. This has become one of the easiest processes I have EVER encountered.

[graciegirl]

We closed on our first home from Ohio, but we had seen it. We wired money. You can trust the process. There isn't any scam going on.

[swimdawg]

Yes, I closed by mail and it was relatively easy. Citizen's First overnighted a package with return envelope. I took package to my financial advisor and had papers notarized.....zipped them back to Citizen's First. It was a very easy and safe way of closing. Actually, easier than closing on my house here in NYS.

Now.....getting a mortgage....well, that was another story!!!!

But....closing by mail was a piece of cake.

[Carla B]

I wouldn't worry about it at all. We closed by mail. We didn't plan it that way but that's how it worked out. I had a major medical problem a few days before closing, so we couldn't be here, although we lived less than 250 miles away.

Not only that, we had wired the money prematurely, because during the financial dark days of 2008 the news reported that the bank we had used to collect the funds for closing was in imminent danger of insolvency. So I rushed there and ordered the wire transfer in advance, figuring the funds were safer in the escrow account than in the bank.

Although The Villages was curious as to why they got the money early, there were no problems in the least with closing by mail. The Villages' closing office is a well-oiled machine.

[Happinow]

We will be closing by mail also. Many on here said it went off without a hitch. Out TV agent also assured there would be no problems. An easy do. I feel confident things will be done efficiently and timely.

[pooh]

We did everything from California. We visited in the fall, told the agent what we wanted, he e-mailed us pictures of a house he thought we'd like (took a few months until he found the house), we loved it, put our hold deposit on a visa card and prepared for our closing...which we did by mail. We wired $$ to TV from our credit union and all went very well. It was easy, safe and went smoothly.

[JenAjd]

We closed by mail...no problems! Think we transferred the money electronically. It went smooth as silk!

[JohnW]

My wife and I had our Lifestyle visit last week and fell in love with TV. We found a new home and want to purchase it but will have to close by mail since we live so far away. This is very unnerving for her since everything on the news warns not to send money or wire transfer money to anyone. I realize TV is not a scam but I can't help but wonder, has anyone every closed on a new home from afar and how did they do it and how did it go? What do I need to know or be wary of, alert for or any tips? Someone PLEASE, allay our fears.

[jimmemac]

We did the closing,mortgage everything by mail or fax-was very nervous about it but have to admit the people in the villages have their act together and it all went off without a hitch. I asked many questions during the process and was always treated with respect. Relax it will go well!!
We used Michelle Halloy as our realtor and would recommend her for anyone buying a resale.

[Barefoot]

My wife and I had our Lifestyle visit last week and fell in love with TV. We found a new home and want to purchase it but will have to close by mail since we live so far away. This is very unnerving for her since everything on the news warns not to send money or wire transfer money to anyone. I realize TV is not a scam but I can't help but wonder, has anyone every closed on a new home from afar and how did they do it and how did it go? What do I need to know or be wary of, alert for or any tips? Someone PLEASE, allay our fears.

We purchased our first home in TV, sight unseen, in May 2007. We closed by mail and wire transfer (we live in Canada). We first saw our Villages home five months later. The Villages Sales Office closes thousands of homes per year, and have streamlined the process to make it easy and user -friendly.

[SgtJohn]

What part of PA are you from ? We close on January 10th. However we are not doing it by mail. We did do everything else through the mail and it wasn't a problem. We live in York County PA.

[villages3412]

We purchased a new home in 2003 and could not make the closing our villages sales agent Pat White was great she did the house inspection for us and had a number of small problems corrected by the builder. and she did
our cloising. A month later we got down for a few days and did another inspection with the biulder no problems. Pat White was great.

[uujudy]

We didn't buy new but rather preowned. We did everything from NY State. We worked with our TV agent and Citizens First and all processing was done by email, fax and express mail where necessary. Most was done electronically.

Any paperwork that didn't require original signatures were emailed to us to go through and sign or initial where required. We then fax'd the completed documents back. Both the agent and bank were very helpful and made things pretty easy for us. As for the wire transfer of funds, an instruction sheet was provided and the transfer went without a hitch! ...

Ditto, except we did everything from Utah. We bought in August, closed in September, and drove to TV in October. Easy peasy... except for the driving part. :p

[CarGuys]

Was on the recommendations of many going to close by distance and mail.

Just booked our flights to TV for our January 10th closing, Don't know exactly why but I have that I'm missing something if I don't?

Plus if I'm a good Herv, I get to go hang out with Gracie and Henry for a visit.

If it was not with Citizens I would be nervouse. As Angie said they have this down to a fine science.

Gracie-

I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry!:wave:

[tainsley]

We also closed by mail....whole process went smoothly. Quickest and easiest closing we ever had!

[jojo]

We also closed by mail. Bought pre-owned. Wired the money. No problems.

[angiefox10]

Was on the recommendations of many going to close by distance and mail.

Just booked our flights to TV for our January 10th closing, Don't know exactly why but I have that I'm missing something if I don't?

Plus if I'm a good Herv, I get to go hang out with Gracie and Henry for a visit.

If it was not with Citizens I would be nervouse. As Angie said they have this down to a fine science.

Gracie-

I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry!:wave:


We are doing the same thing! Will close by mail... But have our plane tickets to be there that day! We waited this long! Want to see our name on the board, do the walk through and spend some time in the house before we head up north again to sell this one! *sigh* Will we EVER grow up! I feel like a kid again!

[Oren L Miller]

Was on the recommendations of many going to close by distance and mail.

Just booked our flights to TV for our January 10th closing, Don't know exactly why but I have that I'm missing something if I don't?

Plus if I'm a good Herv, I get to go hang out with Gracie and Henry for a visit.

If it was not with Citizens I would be nervouse. As Angie said they have this down to a fine science.

Gracie-

I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry!:wave:

I just have to be there. It's too exciting of a time in my life not to be there. I know my being there will not improve anything but I want to see it. Also I think my wife Angie has connections and she is promising me a chance to meet Gracie too. :coolsmiley:

[skyguy79]

Was on the recommendations of many going to close by distance and mail.

Just booked our flights to TV for our January 10th closing, Don't know exactly why but I have that I'm missing something if I don't?

Plus if I'm a good Herv, I get to go hang out with Gracie and Henry for a visit.

If it was not with Citizens I would be nervouse. As Angie said they have this down to a fine science.

Gracie-

I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry:oops:
I will not worry!:wave:In your mentioning you're flying down, I thought of something I'd like to pass on. I was told that if for any reason something goes wrong and I can't arrive on time for the closing, make sure to call ASAP and let them know as they could in all likelyhood delay the closing under the circumstances.

[Russ_Boston]

We also closed by mail....whole process went smoothly. Quickest and easiest closing we ever had!

Ditto.

[Pturner]

Closed on a resale by mail. EASY.

[lovsthosebigdogs]

We are from west of Reading, PA from a small town of about 2,000 people. I am so relieved that everyone is saying their closings went well. Whew, all I have to rdo now is sign and pay up. The hard part is behind me I guess. Now I can look forward to retiring and moving down. My mother-in-law if from Delta, which I believe is near York.

[oakback]

My wife and I have closed on three homes. Two new, one pre-owned.
Sight unseen.
As has been said. They have it down to a science.

[Jack&Pam]

:)My wife and I had never been to Florida before 8/17/10. We bought a spec house 3 days in to our preview tour. We were very apprehensive about a mail closing but it all went well.

Welcome to TV

[jane032657]

Just signed in WA State yesterday. Easy. They FedEx papers back to Florida.

[ijusluvit]

The closing process by mail is relatively convenient, but not without problems if you are working with Citizens First. When we bought during the 2004 boom, Citizens personnel got mixed up and missed the closing date. It cost us several thousand dollars. I won't comment on how I resolved that .

Then, silly me, I refinanced through them last month. I had to make numerous calls before they corrected two fees on my good faith estimate. I am convinced, especially with the issue of title insurance, I would have been charged up to $700 more than required for this fee had I not researched the matter carefully and continued to talk to Citizens and McLin Burnsed staff until they got it right.

Yes the process might look easy, but be very careful about what you are paying.

[Happinow]

What do you do when closing by mail and have to do the final walk thru?

[superbonnie]

We just closed about a month ago on a resale by mail. Our wonderful agent did the final walk thru for us . I was on the phone with him while he walked thru. We did have an inspection while we were down at the time of purchase and only a few minor issues were resolved by closing. As many have stated they have it down to a science for sure. Good luck!

[Bosoxfan]

We did everything by mail...we built new & our agent kept us up to date on progress by emailing pics.He also did the final walk through..Like it was said in a previous post ..they have it down to a science...couldn't have been smoother!

[oakback]

What do you do when closing by mail and have to do the final walk thru?

Our agent did the walk through for us. Took lots of pictures, and emailed them to us.
Also, paid for a home inspection on a pre-owned one we bought.

[CarGuys]

We wanted to meet our builder and have a chance to check over the home with him by our side.

I have seen other homes on visits where the window glass and slider glass were scratched by the cleaning crews with razor blades. This was getting the paper and tape off the windows. There are some other threads on this out there/

I want to check this and other important punch list items. With us the home will sit empty for almost a year.