Expert: Dick Dennis - 5/11/2009

Question
Sir,

I am deployed in Afghanistan and found a log home on 5 acres in north pole I want to buy.  My credit can not get any worse than it is now due to a nasty divorce but the seller agrees to carry the note.  Her husband was killed in a car accident.  I know if she owns it outright this can be done.  I noticed that there are/were some liens against the property and I would have to pay the back taxes.

Suppose their are liens on the property, can we still move forward with her keeping everything in her name?  If not, could we do a lease purchase?  I know I could just generously pay all her debt for her but how do I insure ownership when all is said and done?

Any options or thoughts?

Thanks, Guy

Answer
This is a bit confusing, Guy, but I will try to answer the best I can. You're in Afghanistan, yet you waant to buy something in the northern part of Alaska, right? Boy, it does appear you want to get away from your divorce and any remnants of it, all right.

Do not! I repeat. Do not buy any property with someone else's liens hanging on the title. You are asking for future problems and anxiety. Somehow, I suspect that there is something else wrong with that property's title. In any case, do not do anything without talking with your JAG or equivalent with special knowledge in real estate.

If you take over that property, YOU, nobody else, will be responsible for paying any and all liens. An attorney, with real estate knowledge, will make sure you are protected. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis
dixiedee13@aol.com