FYI…This is long and complicated
Bought a repo from vanderbuilt about a week ago. Before closing I asked as if the taxes were paid in full. To move in NC you have to have proof of taxes paid in full and I always check. They said yes and I closed on it. When I went to get the paperwork from the county it turns out that 2400 dollars in back taxes are due on both the lot and the mobile home. The owners wages are currently being garnished to recoup this amount (it’s a private lot still owned by the repoed mobile home owner). The county says they do not seperate personal and real estate taxes when a mobile home is on a private lot and to be moved I would have to pay both!
I called vanderbuilt back and they said they show taxes are paid, I confirmed the county, and it turns out they are checking with the wrong county. It is actually in a neighboring county. I did a little research on the lot while I was down in this sleeply little county records office, and found one deed of trust on this lot. I called the beneficiary and she says there is a 8100 dollar balance and they are “slightly” past due, but not in default yet. So thinking I have the perfect solution, I contact the owners and offer to buy the lot and do a great land/home package. I called them and offered to pay off their taxes and loan balance in exchange for deeding me the lot. They didn’t think they still owned the lot, and told me they would get back to me the next day after making a few phone calls. Well that was 4 days ago, and it seems they are avoiding my messages and phone calls now.
So what do I do? I’ve already decided the only way i’m going to pay these taxes is if I get the land. BTW, doesn’t vanderbuilt escrow the taxes when they finance the home??? Maybe I need to give them a call and see if they have just been sending the check to the wrong county all these years??
Maybe I should just go ahead with the land/home deal. There are already people stopping in asking me if the home is going to be for sale/rent soon. Finding a buyer for this one is going to be a cinch. What is the worst that could happen if I do this??