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buying a house in california

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  • 22-07-2009 8:54pm
    #1
    lisa85irl
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭


    hi im planning on moving to usa nxt year and am looking into purchasing a house mainly foreclosure homes, im just wondering what the laws are reguarding this and is there any extra taxes on imigrants purchasing???

    tanx


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    #2
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,404 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Aside from all the usual problems with property purchase, what you really need to watch out for is state and local taxes that are owed by the property - you will be liable for them.

    Your best bet is to find a lawyer who specialies in Californian property law. Either find someone in Ireland (few) or California (many), but make sure they are independent, that is not tied up in property development themselves.


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    #3
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,300 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Also, check is there any military bases nearby. Due to rotation, you may get a good deal out of someone that has been moved elsewhere, and needs to sell up.


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    #4
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    How do you plan on paying for it? You won't have much (if any) of a credit history or rating to get a mortgage. Also with foreclosures, they are normally 'as is' so if you run into anything wrong with the house, you could be out of pocket big time. Normally you would get a house inspection before buying but foreclosures don't work that way, so they are sold 'as is' by the bank as they want it off their hands asap. You will have to pay property taxes to the county it is situated in every year (most people have that lumped in with their mortgage payment each month and paid yearly).


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    #5
    silja
    Registered Users Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭silja


    We bought a house in Arkansas last year, a few months before we moved over. Not sure about Cali, but there are no special rules/ taxes for non-residents/ immigrants here. It is best if you get to the US before the next tax filing is due though, as you can get money back for buying a house. I'd very strongly recommend you go over and view the house, they look so different in person than on the virtual tour. Also to get a full inspection on it- if nothing else, small things like an old aircon unit gives you leverage to get a better price. Make sure you have the money set up and have made transfer arrangements with the bank. You usually only get 10 days to get the money to the seller once you signed the papers, so hold ups with money transfer from Ireland could cost you the house.

    BTW, probably stating the obvious, but buying a house in the US does not entitle you to live here, you'll still need a visa.


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