Assigment of agreement of sale - double transfer taxes

[Gina Nicolas]

Good evening, I really need some advice.  I am buying a property in PA, while it is not my first time buying houses in PA it is the first time that I am buying one from a wholesaler.  I received the document and I have forwarded them  to my title search company which i have been doing business for years.  The title company lady told me that I will have to pay for double transfers taxes, I am not sure why.  She said according to the state of PA, if your are buying from a wholesaler, the buyer will pay for double transfer taxes.  I really want to do the deal because it is a good deal but I am trying to see how can I do it. Maybe I can minus the taxes from my offer.  Also the wholesaler wants me to use his title company instead of mine, I don't feel comfortable doing that since I feel like I will  not have anyone represent me if I do that.  Any input will be appreciated.  Is there  anyone out there that has done a deal like that, buying from a wholesaler in Pennsylvania?  If so, did you have to pay twice for transfer taxes? Should I be ok to use his title search company instead of mine?

[Brian Pulaski]

How much are the transfer taxes? That is not the same as NY, but all states are different.

Wholesalers tend to want you using their title company as they already have the ball rolling with them. I agree that using them is “safe” if they are a reputable company. I did however find out that when I bought using someone else’s “required” title company, the fees were about double what I’m used to, and their title report was a mess... there was 30 or so items that needed to be addressed before I signed any paperwork. In the end it worked out, but it made for a lot of phone calls to figure it out.