HELP!! is this Normal or Abnormal? Seller stays after closing?

[Rhondalette W.]

The day has finally arrived. We have been waiting for weeks to get mortgage approval for our first rental property and will close on tomorrow.  I have the cashiers check for the down payment and I am ready to go to title company tomorrow, however, my Realtor informs me that we will not actually get the keys tomorrow because the owner requested a few days "5" days to pack and move. Is this normal??  Originally, the Realtor said the owner wanted to lease back the property after closing but then she explained that there is no money involved in a lease back but it is a courtesy to allow time for owner to move. 

No keys?  and No money on a lease back? Is this normal? 

[Jon Holdman]

Not really normal, but it does happen sometimes.  What does your purchase contract say about "possession"?  Normally that says "at closing", which means you get the keys and the place at closing.

The risk is that as soon as you close with the sellers there, you are a landlord and they are your tenant.  Five days could turn into ten, then into five weeks...

If you contract says possession is five days after closing, you're stuck.  If it says possession at closing, I'd push back.  Specifically, I'd push back closing by five days to give them time to get out.