[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

My suggestion re purchasing a pre-owned home is that you pass on hiring an attorney and just be sure to have a good Title Company and Title Insurance; the title company will conduct our closing and provide you with all paperwork. Beyond that I also suggest that if you a re purchasing a pre-owned home which includes any furnishings/appliances - and you want to keep any of that furniture/appliances - please take photos of all pieces that are included in the sale. Friends of ours arrived at their walk-thru prior to closing on their pre-owned only to find out that the owner had swapped out the new refrigerator that had been in the home for a much older and more used refrigerator! Friends said they were not closing unless the situation was corrected; and they held to that, despite the sales people's disbelief! Resolution was that the two real estate sales folks kicked in the cash for an 'appliance adjustment' amount that was satisfactory to our friends...the owner was having nothing to do with her misdirection!

VERY GOOD POINT on taking photos of furniture & appliances! So noted.

[Biker Dog]

We have bought 3 homes in the Villages, 1 new and 2 privately owned, over the years all 3 cash purchases. Never have used an attorney for the closings. Title insurance is paid for by the Seller and supplied through the title company closing your purchase. All the important paper work involved in the purchase is state approved and required. We have never had any problems with the titles.

[Advogado]

Some tips if you are going to do it yourself:
1. Make sure you understand everything in the purchase contract before you sign it. Remember everything is negotiable, although the standard agreements are fairly well balanced between the buyer and the seller.
2. Make sure you understand the residential bond, which is unique to The Villages, before signing the purchase contract. The simplest way to look at the bond is to add the amount thereof to the ostensible purchase price to determine what you really paying.
3. Insist on getting all the closing documents ahead of the closing so that you can read and understand them. Under the pressure of the closing and with the rapid explanation that you will get from the closing agent, it is hard for anybody who is not familiar with the process to really understand them when seeing them for the first time at the closing.

[karostay]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

We were cash buyers--no lawyer--the villages closing office handled everything

same here seller paid around 90% closing cost

[EdFNJ]

Thanks everyone for all the good information. The main reason I would want an attorney is not so much for the closing but to make sure nothing was "slipped in" to the contract that would not be good for me. My NJ attorney who is handling my sale said he would "look over" the documents for any obvious issues. I will leave the rest to the title company down here when I get here (which isn't soon enough).

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Thanks everyone for all the good information. The main reason I would want an attorney is not so much for the closing but to make sure nothing was "slipped in" to the contract that would not be good for me. My NJ attorney who is handling my sale said he would "look over" the documents for any obvious issues. I will leave the rest to the title company down here when I get here (which isn't soon enough).

Ed, the big difference is you don't have to rent a suit of armor down here for the closing event. I think our NJ built in alarm is a good thing to some extent. So many people running scams, damn. When you can't use a Certified Check anymore because they figured out how to beat that to....unbelievable. One small detail my friend...when the money is being wired from the Stage Coach Bank to the Title Company make sure the destination account number is 1000% correct or your funds are gone. Poof! I never wired money before and was a little uncomfortable with this.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by Nucky

Ed, the big difference is you don't have to rent a suit of armor down here for the closing event. I think our NJ built in alarm is a good thing to some extent. So many people running scams, damn. When you can't use a Certified Check anymore because they figured out how to beat that to....unbelievable. One small detail my friend...when the money is being wired from the Stage Coach Bank to the Title Company make sure the destination account number is 1000% correct or your funds are gone. Poof! I never wired money before and was a little uncomfortable with this.

Hmmm, I always thought "wiring money" was when you banded it with wire straps and put it in a briefcase and hand delivered it. That's how "Big Louie Twoshoes" always did it here until he went to sleep with the fishies.

By the way, we got a place for 2mos in OBG on E Schwartz! What a relief. Great deal, nice people. About 3 blocks from where we stayed in Sept.

[Villager Joyce]

I contained myself for days, but I can't stand it any more. He who represents himself in court has a fool for a client. I said it. I feel much much better.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

I contained myself for days, but I can't stand it any more. He who represents himself in court has a fool for a client. I said it. I feel much much better.

I don't think Judge Judy would agree with that!