Sounds like a smart way to do this. Seems to me that the key is to ask lots of questions and look for red flags. There are still transactions happening from time to time that don't go through escrow. Doesn't necessarily mean there's something fishy going on, but unless we ask, we don't have a clue. If they hem and hedge on answers, then it might be time to walk away. But if they have a story that makes sense (e.g. a cash sale between family members, etc.) and what the other party says is in sync, then it may be no problem.
They apparently need someone to be an intermediary and a notary makes sense, since there's a Deed to be notarized anyway. If something just doesn't add up, or if you don't feel you have enough experience to ask the right questions, then it's probably a good idea to let them find someone else. [BTW, this isn't directed to Tina, 'cause she's clearly one of the knowledgeable, seasoned pros on this forum - even though she doesn't post often...  ] |
