Deltona, FL asked in Real Estate Law for Florida

Q: Is it legal in a real estate contract to inflate purchase price then have seller return money?

A buyer presented me with a contract with an inflated purchase price of $120,000 more. He is using a DSRC loan to buy it. He added an addendum stating I woud return $120,000 to him at closing for property management and maintenance. I was hesitant on signing and his broker told me because its a DSRC loan its fine and he does about 30 a week. Sounds fishy to me and even if legal wouldn't I pay capital gains on that extra money?

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3 Lawyer Answers

A: If it looks like fraud and smells like fraud -- it's fraud. The realtor is not your agent and you should never buy or sell real estate without a lawyer. Don't sign anything without having a real estate lawyer review it.

James Clifton
PREMIUM
James Clifton
Answered
  • Fayetteville, GA
  • Licensed in Florida

A: A DSCR loan is a debt service coverage ratio loan. It is a special type of investment loan that compares debt service, interest and principal paid on a loan, to the net operating income of the property. However, what this buyer is describing is mortgage fraud, and you definitely don't want to get caught up in it. Your real estate agent should be guiding you during this process and should also be able to see this fraudulent behavior. Please feel free to reach out for a free consultation, whether you are working with a real estate agent or not. An attorney may be able to spot suspicious behavior that a real estate agent cannot.

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
Answered
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: Reason 4, 623,862 that both parties in any real estate transaction should have an attorney's review, advice, and counsel.

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