Can a neighbor’s deed help confirm my property’s legal description when my deed is missing? – North Carolina Short Answer A neighbor’s recorded deed can sometimes help confirm boundaries or clarify what a missing or unclear description was trying to describe, but it does not replace the missing deed and it does not, by itself,…
What steps ensure the sale proceeds are safely wired into my account after closing? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the safest way to protect sale proceeds is to treat wiring instructions as high-risk information and verify them only through trusted, independently confirmed channels (not email). At closing, the settlement agent must follow…
Can we proceed to closing while waiting on confirmation that the power of attorney is valid? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, a North Carolina real estate closing should not proceed to final signing and recording until the closing attorney is comfortable that the power of attorney (POA) is valid and covers the specific act…
How do I fix a trustee’s deed that appears to combine two separate parcels into one legal description? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, fixing a trustee’s deed that seems to merge two parcels usually starts with deciding whether the problem is a minor recording/typographical issue or a material description problem that could…
Do I need a property appraisal to use real estate as collateral for bond, and who can prepare it? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, when real estate is offered as collateral to secure a bond, the decision-maker (typically the court official handling the bond) commonly requires proof of the property’s…
Does the property stay in my name until the agreed payments are paid in full, or can the deed transfer immediately? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the deed can transfer immediately, and if it does, the property generally will no longer stay in the current owner’s name just because there is a…
Do I need to open probate first, or can I proceed under the will’s executor powers to pursue the title case? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a named executor usually must open the estate and be officially appointed (qualified) by the Clerk of Superior Court before acting as “executor” in court or…
How can I get reimbursed from the sale proceeds for property taxes and other expenses I paid out of pocket on a home owned by a trust? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, reimbursement usually happens through the trust’s administration: the trustee treats the out-of-pocket taxes and other carrying costs as reimbursable trust…
What documents are needed to transfer or update ownership on a vacation club title? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the documents needed to transfer or update ownership on a vacation club “title” depend on whether the interest is a timeshare estate (real estate) or a timeshare use (contract/personal property). For a timeshare…
If we can’t find details on the older mortgage, what are my options to clear title so we can move forward? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an old mortgage or deed of trust that still shows up in the public records can often be cleared by (1) recording a proper satisfaction/release from…