Buying a home from a seller with dementia

[Dennis Yosco]

Hey BP, 

I’m in a bit of a situation and I know the route I’m going to take. Just wanted to see other solutions and see what people have done in this situation exactly. 

I was contacted by a homeowner after I sent out a direct mail piece. We spoke for 55 minutes! 
She was a very nice woman and wants to sell her house. I noticed on the phone she repeated herself and lost her train of thought a few times. I knew something was up but I wasn’t sure. I set an appointment to meet with her today at 2 pm, not more than 2 hours after I got off the phone with her. When I showed up to her house to walk the property she was distraught. 

I rang the bell and she walked up with a smile and I said hey Mary, we just spoke. She goes who are you? I explained we just spoke for an hour before and I said I’d be here by 2. She had no idea who I was and said she didn’t speak to anyone today. I told her no problem to take my card then and we’ll talk later. 

She saw my card and recognized the last name and remembered speaking to me for a few today. She then invited me in and insisted that I shouldn’t and she said no please come in I just want this house sold. 

I walk the house and asked if we can call her daughter together so we can speak. She said what does she have to do with anything and told me she can handle it herself. The house needs quite a bit of work, typical carpet in the bathroom and all that. Probably about 50k. No problem with that but I came up with a price and didn’t feel comfortable with sharing it with her. 

So my next steps are to get the daughter number and give her a call and let her know what is going on with her mother, the daughter lives in Oregon and we are in NJ.  I’m worried for her because someone is gonna take total advantage of this woman. I don’t feel comfortable making any decisions with her until I speak to someone of able mind to help her. I know others would just have her sign and not care. 

So what would you guys do in this situation?