How do I buy my dead neighbors home?

Question

I bought my 1st home some time ago. My neighbor(shared wall twin) was an older woman who lived alone.

She recently died about a week ago and I'm curious as to how to buy her home. I dont want it to sit vacant and become destroyed and vandalized.

She had no known children that I ever met while living next to her for 8 years(I've been renting to family for the past 2 and an currently fixing it up for another tenant).

I've seen nobody come by in days. Her items are still in the home.

I know she owned the home outright but not if there were or are any liens against the property. Since it is attached to mine I'd like to buy it. Is there a way I could do this? How do I find out who it passes to...if it passes to someone?

Mark Pedroza · Answer

You may also want to request a copy of the death certificate Account Closed.

Whom ever filled it out will be your first point of contact (Sibling, neighbor, close friend, pastor, etc.,etc.)

If there is a death certification you'll then need to go to your local county courthouse (Orphans Court) in Media Borough and see if Petition for Probate  has started. If it has the administration process has already begun. If there's a will research it and determine if the home is part of the will (estate).

Pennsylvania has a Right to Know Law which (I'm assuming) means it's public information.

If there is no will will or a will filed the originator of the death certificate will probably petition the Orphans Court to be named as Personal Representative (Executor or Administrator) of the estate.

Then you will make contact with the PR and inquire about the property.

(I am not an attorney and this is not legal advise but I did go through the probate endurance a few years ago)

Good luck...

Account Closed · Answer

@Toria Posey https://www.jwbrealestatecapital.com/what-is-probate-real-estate-investing/

Just did a quick google search. Depends on where that property is in the probate process. If your neighbor had a will or not.

I definitely start contacting Agents and the Probate Court asap. You will get the answers your looking for there.

Your best bet is to learn everything about that property and make moves now. Dont wait for somone on here to tell you the answers.

The probate Courts should be able to give you the answers you need.

As for a deal. Its certainly possible. Just depends on the property. How much repairs it needs ect.

If the state takes it, they will want the best deal possible for them.

If family takes ownership of it through a WILL, you might get a deal because they dont want the hassle of the legal process, paying for repairs, selling it ect.

Again, do the research! You dont know until you take action! Good luck! Hope it goes your way.

John Teachout · Answer

I'd start by posting a note on the door of the property stating you own the adjoining residence and are interested in this one if "they" are interested in selling it. Then put your phone and email on there and see what happens.

Frank Chin · Answer

Account Closed

@Mark Pedroza  gave a good summary of things you have to consider. I like to add a few things, especially timing.

My mother in law just passed away this pass July 9 in San Francisco. She lives in and has a property, her home, in NY. But it took till Aug 4 to have the funeral ceremony. It was Aug 6 before she and her 2 siblings met with a probate attorney. The attorney selected didn't start filing papers till the last week of August.

She was named the executor in the will and the siblings are somewhat in agreement over the distribution, though there were grumblings that it's not evenly distributed. It took till last week that we paid the probate attorney to start work. The first step was having her siblings sign waivers that they have no objections.

My job in this mix was to find a probate attorney. She left a mortgage free property to my wife and younger sister with ARV of $300K. I was anxious to get started since I know Nov till Jan is a bad time of the year to sell. Her attitude was it's more important to handle the estate correctly.

My wife had also handle estate in trust for a family friend as trustee. You mentioned the neighbor passed away a week ago and it seems it's too soon for the estate even to go into probate if that's the route. Your best bet is to leave notes in the mailbox as my wife checked the mailboxes for the family friend and her mom. And within the first week, she had to work through her grief which is why I hesitate to rush her with the attorney.

I believe we're not ready to talk to buyers a week after her mom's death. She has to got over her grief and get started on the paperwork. It's true that we'll get the money sooner if we get on it sooner, like finding a buyer 2 days after the her death. But I find that very disrespectful to the dead.

Account Closed · Answer

@Jonathan Greer good point

Account Closed · Answer

@Toria Posey I don’t think it’s a good idea to offer someone who’s still alive to buy their house when they die.  It’s better to talk to them like they are going to live a lot longer and hope that for them.  Watch for bad eating habits and try to encourage them to eat healthy, drink lots of water and go for walks.  Just be a good friend to people like that, then I think you will attract good deals in other ways and feel good for loving the elderly and helping them.  If you can help them by buying their house, maybe you can think of a way to suggest this, but I can’t imagine a nice way to pose the offer.  Probably just getting to know someone like this could give you a better opportunity to talk to their family about buying the house if they pass away.

Account Closed · Answer

@Toria Posey it sounds like you kind of dropped the ball by not getting to know her well enough after 8 years of living next to her and not knowing for sure weather she has kids or not?  You probably can learn from this one that being more personable can go a long way in RE opportunities.  No offense, I don’t know your situation and some people can be quite reclusive, but it helps to get to know your neighbors and network some.  I’ll bet another neighbor would know a bit more about her.  Try to see if a friend of hers comes by the house to help handle her goods etc.  get out there and make some friends.

Account Closed · Answer

@Toria Posey i would contact local Real Estate Agents, they can help do some of the search for next of ki  if any.

Also search at you local Probate Court. If there is no family to take ownership, that State will take over and is goes through the Probate Court.

Hope this helps!

Frank Chin · Answer

If you're next door, her daughter is there, then send over a sympathy card with an added note you would like to buy the property if it's available and see what happens. You're in better shape compared to many of those searching high and low for relatives to contact.

In our culture, my wife would find it rude if the first thing I mention after her mom's death is to talk about the property left to her. I left it to her to grieve, and this week she's talking to contractors and some agents, almost two months after her mom's death. Oh, it took her and her siblings several weeks to clear out the closets, and they spent several days clearing the place of jewelry. Took the group two weeks to decide on the probate attorney. In my parents case, they were hoarders, so it took my brother more than six months to clear out the place.

All in all, I think a sympathy card at this stage is the best thing, especially if she died last week.

Account Closed · Answer

@Frank Chin thanks for that. Her daughter(who I forgot about) is at her home for now and I think I'll leave her a letter with my Information if she wishes to sell.

How do I buy my dead neighbors home?

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