Option on title of a property I am closing

Option on title of a property I am closing

Rental Property Investor · CA · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 3 votes

Hi all,

I have a situation in the process of purchasing a rental property. In the Schedule B Exceptions from Coverage of the title commitment, it states a "Memorandum of Option" between previous seller and buyer in 2013. This could lead to a future event that optionee comes up and buy my property at a stipulated price.

Currently, I have heard a few things:

- Title company: they say there have been a few transactions after this Option, there should be no issue, but this is not covered by insurance

- an unpaid legal advice from a local lawyer: this is a defected title, should cancel the purchase

- Realtor: we will try to remove this, but this is not an important issue

- Realtor friends: No. Only purchase if it's removed

- Lender: Need to see what comes out from Title company's effort

Difficulties:

- Can't reach the optionor, and optionee is an LLC

- Public record in Texas doesn't show the image (working on recovering)

- Closing date is soon

Question:

- What can I do to remove it?

- Will an option agreement expire once there is a subsequent transaction?

- Should I proceed?

Please please help! This is my first time seeing this thing and I really appreciate any advice you have as an investor, a lawyer or a realtor. I understand no advice here should be treated as legal advice, so it would be really helpful to tell me what you would do.

Thanks BP community!

0Reply
48 views

Most Popular Reply

Tom GimerBusiness Member
DMV · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
8y

I assume this is a cash deal so there is no lender to object to this exception. If a lender saw this it would kill the deal.

If I was involved I would tell the seller... pay for affirmative title insurance coverage to respond to this issue or I walk. This risk has a value. And with every day that passes, the risk of that occurring within the applicable limitations period decreases.

Gimer Law516 Reviews
See this reply in the discussion

9 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Greg H.Pro Member
    Moderator
    Broker/Flipper · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    First, I do not think the lender will fund the loan with this exception as it will need to be removed.  Does the memorandum have an end date ?

  • Rental Property Investor · CA · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 3 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Greg H.:

    First, I do not think the lender will fund the loan with this exception as it will need to be removed.  Does the memorandum have an end date ?

     Thank you for your reply, Greg. One of the problem is that we don't have the actual memorandum contract and the county record doesn't show the picture scan.

  • Tom GimerBusiness Member
    DMV · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y

    I assume this is a cash deal so there is no lender to object to this exception. If a lender saw this it would kill the deal.

    If I was involved I would tell the seller... pay for affirmative title insurance coverage to respond to this issue or I walk. This risk has a value. And with every day that passes, the risk of that occurring within the applicable limitations period decreases.

    Gimer Law516 Reviews
  • Real Estate Professional · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2012 · 23k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    8y

    One Has to see the option agreement to see if it is still valid......short of that it’s a crap shoot.

  • Investor · Corpus Christi, TX · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    The title company doesn't care because they're "excepting" it from coverage. It doesn't matter how many other transactions have been completed after the filing of the memorandum...if you move forward it's YOUR problem, not any of the past owners problem. Any REALTOR who says this isn't a big deal should be reported to the the real estate commission...they're not qualified to provide an opinion on title. Check with the Secretary of State's Office to see if the LLC is still active. The Seller should consult with an attorney about a quiet title action.

  • Flipper / Landlord · Tyler, TX · Member since 2016 · 255 posts · 126 votes
    8y
    It won't close if you are using a lender. They don't take any exceptions.
  • Rental Property Investor · CA · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 3 votes
    8y

    Thanks a lot for the replies! Yes, my realtor told me that he's not allowed to legally advise me on this. So I don't blame him on giving me his thoughts. 

    My lender's reaction has been pretty calm. They are in the wait-and-see mode. 

    LLC's filing can't be found on the Texas website. https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/filing-status/...

    Will track it down on the quiet title action.

  • Attorney · Austin, TX · Member since 2014 · 890 posts · 759 votes
    8y

    I don't know where in Texas you are closing this or the parties involved.  You can get the seller to address at their cost/expense or have the title company address.  You don't *have to* close on this property with this defect to title.  Entities must be registered with the SoS, and annual information filing should be easy enough to get for a buck.  Hve title send you a copy of the memorandum.  If the option expired, I wouldn't worry too much, but still get a release.  Everything is going to depend on the exact wording in the option and memo.

  • Rental Property Investor · CA · Member since 2018 · 17 posts · 3 votes
    7y

    Thanks group! We cleared the title with a release and it is closed. It's in Austin TX.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.