Originally Posted by trekker954 (Post 1872978)

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.

Originally Posted by jbrown132 (Post 1873210)

At closing, I believe both the buyer and seller have to sigh a document that essentially states if any mistakes have been made you guarantee you will make good on the difference between what you paid and the actual cost. I am not sure but I would think it is the closing attorney who would be responsible for going after the original seller.

Originally Posted by Footer (Post 1873169)

I am in the same situation except the seller owes me $2000 for taxes. The seller lived in the house only 1 year so his taxes were based on the previous owner's homestead and SOH tax bill. The title company based the proration on the previous bill and we both signed a document saying we would adjust between ourselves when the actual tax bill came out.

Both realtors tried to get the seller to pay up but he ignored them. The only person to blame contractually is the seller. Everyone else did their job. What can you do? Move on.

Originally Posted by DLJ1657 (Post 1873254)

I may be missing your objection to how the taxes were prorated at closing, but from what I read, here are my thoughts. As a paralegal specializing in real estate transactions for over 24 years in another state, I will say that standard purchase/sale contracts call for the proration of taxes based on the last known amount. If I am reading your complaint right, that is how the title company calculated the closing expenses. If the seller used the property as homestead and his tax bill reflected that reduced amount, regardless of how you are going to occupy the property, last year's bill is what gets prorated at closing. The seller is not obligated to pay a prorated share on any future bill - it is based on the last amount billed to the seller. (My apologies if I misread your complaint!)

Originally Posted by Nevermore (Post 1873197)

You got a great deal at a crazy low rate. And now you are complaining about $590? Hardwood floors and a paid off bond. Count your blessings and stop letting this small sum of money eat up energy and time. Yes, small sum. Are you going to miss a meal? Fair, maybe not, but I would choose letting go of the aggravation.

Originally Posted by shut the front door (Post 1873341)

OP, you have every right to be upset. You shouldn't have to pay for someone else's mistake. I hope all the people badgering you get cheated out of $590 and just let it go.
I'm also leery of people who have nothing better to do than dig through the history of a poster on this board. That's kind of creepy.

Originally Posted by trekker954 (Post 1872978)

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.

Originally Posted by trekker954 (Post 1872978)

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.

Originally Posted by Marathon Man (Post 1873351)

If the OP had not bragged about the deal he got on the house, those "badgering" posts would not exist.

Originally Posted by trekker954 (Post 1872978)

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.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1872987)

I read this through twice, and although admittedly my husband handled all of the details of the eleven closings in our life, it looks on the face of it that you are angry at being surprised at the taxes. (My husband is not a realtor, he is just a smart guy)

Homes in The Villages are escalating like crazy right now, in fact that appears to be so just about everywhere.

I do not think anyone cheated you. I think you were just surprised at the amount of taxes.

I am not a realtor or an agent and we sold our home without a realtor once and it went well. I am not an expert and I really don't like realtors on the whole a lot because many of them pressure. I do really, really, really like Alemorkam, the photographer's wife and Mary Grant and Debbie Boehner back in Cincinnati. (She was my neighbor and friend, married to John Boehner) yes, that one. (We knew someone famous)

Our very favorite house seller in the whole world is Jim McLaughlin from The Villages.

P.S. I don't think anybody gets double commission for having an open house. Do they?????

Originally Posted by saratogaman (Post 1873002)

The agent gets both halves of the commission in that situation -- the one due the listing agent and the one due the selling agent. Since it appears the same agent handled both, he/she is entitled to both halves.

Originally Posted by Jayhawk (Post 1873008)

Think back to your post in June where you just bought the house. Remember your excitement at the deal you got? And estimated taxes are just that - estimated based on best available information. Take some time to reflect on your good fortune and enjoy. It's not like anyone went out of their way to cheat you. Peace.

Let me update you all since I started this post. I came up (from South Florida) on June 6, on Day 3 of a 2 week stay, I found my house (believe me I looked at tons, mostly just open houses so I didn't have to really deal with realtors. Anyway, it wasn't the model or the type or even location that I thought I wanted to live but I loved the neighborhood, and loved the house. It was a preowned TV properties, I did get a steal. Its in Pine Hills and is a designer built in 2017. The previous owner also paid cash and are you ready...........paid off the bond!!!! It was really only lived in about 10 months over the three years and never rented. It looks brand new and the owner replaced the carpet with hard wood (which was always on my checklist) I think in November. It was priced to sell quick and i did offer him under which he accepted.

Originally Posted by Carl99 (Post 1873414)

They did the same to me

Originally Posted by trekker954 (Post 1872978)

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.

Originally Posted by KRM0614 (Post 1873371)

Are you the goodwill ambassador for the villages ? They tell customers amenity fees won’t go up, a big lie they don’t disclose all the high prices for basic services that’s because the Morse family gave their greedy paws in everything

Originally Posted by KRM0614 (Post 1873371)

Are you the goodwill ambassador for the villages ? They tell customers amenity fees won’t go up, a big lie they don’t disclose all the high prices for basic services that’s because the Morse family gave their greedy paws in everything

Originally Posted by KRM0614 (Post 1873369)

Minus the big chunk the villages take of everything ! No one has an accurate idea how much they deduct from commissions income

Originally Posted by Mrodmh (Post 1875391)

Wow. It’s amazing how you were so proud to save so much money and not have to pay a bond and getting this property for such a great price and it was everything you ever wanted and now you’re going to complain about $590. Wow.

Originally Posted by trekker954 (Post 1872978)

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.