FIRST EVER LEAD-- Foreclosure & Probate combo

[Jonathan Klim]

Hi guys,

My name is Jonathan Klim from Palm Harbor, FL and I'm new to the real estate investing world.  I recently decided to take action, and sent out my first direct mail batch last week (sent out 186 post cards to a tax default list in St. Petersburg, FL)! Today, i got my first call a motivated seller! I was super excited to actually get a call from someone, but I'm a little lost as to whether or not I can help this person at this moment in time.

Here is the situation: The caller's father recently passed away, and his name is still the sole name on the deed. At the time of his passing, the property was in a reverse mortgage. The caller hasn't been able to keep up with the mortgage payments, and consequently, the property has been in foreclosure with the bank for almost the past 3 months. The caller/motivated seller simply wants an all cash deal what will eradicate the problems she's having with the bank foreclosure situation.

My question to you guys is: Can I help her at this moment in time? Since it's her father on the deed and not her at the moment, I'm assuming she doesn't have any say in selling the house right now. So as far as what I can do, should I just recommend a probate attorney to her, then I'd have to wait until the probate process is successful (possibly several months), so that she has control to sell the house, which would give me the ability to wholesale her property to an end buyer? If this is the case, would the motivated seller have to shell out the initial cash out of her own pocket for the probate attorney's services (I don't know how much this process costs)?

Sincerely,

Jonathan Klim

[Derek W.]

If this is really a deal and I were in your shoes, I would partner with a local probate expert. You'll get to watch and learn, and still make some money from it. It could be that making a loan to the estate to stall the foreclosure is the best path. (Probably not in reverse mortgage) Maybe it's buying the heirs interest? I don't know, because I don't have all the facts and details. But an expert can often make a sweet glass of lemonade from sour lemons.