Quote from: Chaang Noi (Goat) ช้างน้อย on May 10, 2013, 09:36:34 AM

Quote from: yossarian on May 10, 2013, 09:23:12 AM

Quote from: Chaang Noi (Goat) ช้างน้อย on May 10, 2013, 08:26:36 AM

Sadly I have to report that I highly suspect this to be a scam.

OP has said he will provide the address of the house and the phone number of his attorney in his personal communications with me.

When this information was requested it was not sent. After a few more tries he finally said that he would "have his attorney call me tomorrow morning". Still no explanation as to why he will not give me the phone number or the address of the house.

Having "some guy" calling me and telling me he is a lawyer is not the same as having my lawyer call up a guy and having him verify the information for me.

I want to make sure the house does exist where he says it does and that it is not protected in anyway.

Also I was unable to find the house on google street view. This does not mean much as well they could have missed it but it does make me wonder. The town is not that big at all.

Can I prove that this is a scam? No I can not and the reason why is because I have no information that is useful other than the name of the town and some photos.

I am extremely disappointed as I was seriously interested in the house/auction. I also had some one willing and able to visit the location to see if the house was in good condition.

I will request the OP be labeled a scammer and banned for trolling if he is unwilling or able to provide the basic information needed to auction a house.

I am said to say I have wasted a significant number of hours try to make this work Sad

Please everyone be very careful. If someone does buy this please use escrow and please let me help you write the escrow contract.

Thanks.

Please read http://www.streifler.de/steps-to-take-when-buying-real-estate-in-germany-_2897.html (random source).

"How long will it take until I own the house / the flat?

Several weeks (even months) can pass from the time of signing the notary deed until receiving the land title register confirmation. However, this has no bearing on when you can take over the house as your own. Normally, the purchase can take possession the moment the purchase price is paid in full to the seller. That date is agreed upon in the purchase deed. During this time your interests in the property are protected by a priority notice of conveyance (Auflassungsvormerkung)."

It is standard procedure in Germany to only pay after the "Auflassungsvormerkung" has been established. It would be foolish not to do this, especially in a case like this. The "Auflassungsvormerkung" is done with local authorities who check identities, so only the rightful owner can sell property. That's pretty much the gist of it. High level of protection, all the escrow talk seems irrelevant to me if you stick to standard procedures.

OP will most likely (have to) agree on this procedure if he wants to make this sale happen.

Will his being in Canada matter? Will his girl friend have to fly to Germany to sell it?

No. He can send anybody (e.g. a lawyer) who presents the correct papers (which is a notarized power of attorney, "Vollmacht" in German). I'd strongly advise you to google some of the issues, the procedure of buying a house in Germany has been discussed by expats in depth.