Property and prisoners

Trenton, MI · Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes

I have an ex brother in law in Fla. that has been in prison for the last 3 years. His property is payed off, so he's told me. The taxes are behind and he's selling it to me for 15k and the back taxes. He has made me power of attorney to transfer the deed. I am in Michigan and I can pay the taxes up online and they're not much.

My goal is to fix it up and take out a heloc to buy more properties. I want to keep it as a vacation home, but possibly rent it out for a few years at first.

How do I verify the title is clear before I go paying the taxes up? Can I transfer this property without leaving state? How do I go about doing this?

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Marc Winter

Real Estate Broker · Northeast PA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes

Make sure to get a title report for clear title and that there are no judgments against the seller that have attached to the property.

Make sure to get a property inspection before you close so you know what will be needed.

Good luck.

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Ellis San Jose
Specialist · Westlake Village, CA · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 781 votes
6y
Do the transaction with a formal escrow & title company to insure title.
Yeah you can buy property without leaving the state.
It would be smart to verify current condition with a property inspector.
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Dylan TanakaPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Detroit, MI · Member since 2008 · 455 posts · 178 votes
6y
@Michael Camp check you DM.
1 Reply
Adam TafelBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · St. Paul, MN · Member since 2017 · 573 posts · 395 votes
6y
@Michael Camp sounds like a sweet deal for you! You'll want to be extra confident the property is free and clear from all liens, given the circumstances. Let us know how it goes!
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Marc Winter
Real Estate Broker · Northeast PA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
Make sure to get a title report for clear title and that there are no judgments against the seller that have attached to the property.
Make sure to get a property inspection before you close so you know what will be needed.
Good luck.
2 Reply
Michael Camp
OP
Trenton, MI · Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes
6y
I am doing a quit claim deed and he made me power poa, so I should be able to sign it over to myself correct? He has wrote on the paper work that I am buy it.
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Account Closed
Professional · Canton, MI · Member since 2016 · 296 posts · 230 votes
6y
@Michael Camp DO NOT DO A SIMPLE QUIT CLAIM DEED WITHOUT PULLING TITLE WORK! I would highly advise you to pull title work and do the transaction formally through a title company. I just dealt with an almost identical transaction the other day (sibling in prison included) and the property had a bunch of tax liens on it making it worthless once the liens were paid off.
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Account Closed
Professional · Canton, MI · Member since 2016 · 296 posts · 230 votes
6y
@Marc Winter this is spot on advice.
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Shannon Wright
Escrow Officer · Temecula, Ca. · Member since 2016 · 418 posts · 152 votes
6y
DO NOT sign the property over to yourself as POA, it is a self-serving act and could cause more issues! If that happened in Cali, title would not accept the deed as valid. If you can get him to sign a POA and deed, then just get a deed from him to you and the POA as a back up if you need anything else after the deed.
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