Expert: Dick Dennis - 8/26/2009

Question
We purchased a VA Repossession eight years ago. Our problem is that we have fixed up the home and it is now worth three times what we paid and we would like to sell it, but have never received the deed and the relator says they can't help, the mortgage company says they can't help, and the VA has no explanation of why we don't have it yet other than "sometimes it takes years" for them to release the deed. I am concerned we are throwing money away and will never really own this home. How can we get our deed so that we can sell our home? Should we cut our losses now and walk away, or pursue getting our deed through legal channels. I hate to hire a lawyer and spend a bunch of money and still end up with no deed. Any help appreciated.

Answer
You really don't need the deed from the VA, Eric. If you are not willing to hire a real estate attorney to keep your mind at ease, all you have to do is to go down to the county hall of records or courthouse (or whatever they call it in your county) and tell them you would like to look up the ownership of your address. Chances are very good, that your name will be there. Then all you have to do is to go ahead and sell the property and you're on your way. Yes, you do not need the actual physical copy of your deed in selling your house. When you go to escrow or the closing office, the title insurance company looks up your ownership and takes it from there. They have you sign the warranty deed (or grant deed, whichever is used in your state) and you get your money and you are on your way. Simple, right?

Or, you can give me your address, county, state and zip and I will look it up for you. Just let me know at dixiedee13@aol.com. I will email you back at what I found. Then you won't need to go down to the county records. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis
dixiedee13@aol.com