"NT" Title transaction???

[PatRarick 1]

First, I'm NOT a lawyer. If the owner is in Texas, and his truck that needs an engine is with you in Illinois, I would say you are in the driver's seat. I would NOT send him any money without first getting a CLEAR title. He should send you the title and trust you for the money. If mutual trust is an issue, there are 2 things you could try. 1) Owner sends title to relative or friend in Illinois. You examine title and give friend or relative the money. 2) Ask your bank about a DRAFT. Basically, some bank in Texas will be the "middleman" and give the owner the money once the conditions of the DRAFT (clear title) are satisfied.

[powermax_paul 1]

In Wisconsin, you can apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a title for a vehicle that's abandoned on your property. It may be the same for the Secretary of State in Illinois. You could maybe get a title B4 you even send a check. Assuming you will still send him a check. Paul

[Sandy 0]

Paul, I thought about that too, but I don't want to ROB the guy. Sandy

[Sandy 0]

Herb, Thanks, I just talked to the guy and he may either fly up here or we can do it thru a guy he used to work with here. How about it, $1200 for a '96 Ford F-150 and he already paid me $500 to do the work up to this point. I think I got me a deal. Sandy

[Sandy 0]

$700 ($1200-$500) for a '96 F-150? No, you don't want to ROB the guy..........

[Sandy 0]

I think I can fix it without replacing the engine too. It originally had been parked with no anti-freeze and blew out 3 freeze plugs in the cold. I replaced those and fixed the radiator, got it started and it had a blown head gasket. He gave up and left it here and told me he'd sell it cheap if I wanted it. I thought it had a cracked block, but on further inspection I don't think so now, although not completely positive. I think it's worth it to risk the investment in a new head gasket set and see what happens. I'm figuring all expenses around $800-$850. I like when these deals fall in my lap. It was from a transient siding guy that needs a good truck to get him around all over the country. He doesn't want to deal with something he can't be sure of. I'll drive it around and see how it goes. I'm not to worried. Sandy

[BigSix 0]

Click - Click "It (the F-150) was from a transient siding guy that needs a good truck to get him around all over the country." Ever hear of the "Travellers"? Deal with them at arm's length.

[Sandy 0]

No,it's not like that. (At least I hope not.) It's a pretty big outfit that has an office right up the road and they travel all over subcontracting work where the big storms hit. We got hit a couple years ago and every siding/roofing company in the world sprang up around here. These were local contractors that hired out to these guys and I've been dealing wih ALL of their big and little truck problems for the last 2 years. Several siding crews, roofers, gutter installers etc.. Big business moves where the money is to be made. They got a good chunk of change out of our house to the tune of around $35,000. I'm glad the insurance company paid. HAHA!!

[powermax_paul 1]

Sandy, I didn't mean for you to rob the guy, just thought it was an option if he didn't send the title back. Paul

[Sandy 0]

Oh, I get you now. If I sent him the money and no title showed up I could just claim it as abandoned property. I like the other concept better, it's more devious and dastardly. I think everything is going to turn out just fine, maybe you'll get to see this baby in Rhinelander. Sandy

[Sandy 0]

I know most (if not all) of you aren't lawyers but I'm sure this could be handled some way without involving one anyway. I came upon a truck that a guy had that was broken down and he left it with me to work on and try to repair. Well, to make a long story shorter he gave up on the thing because it needed an engine. He has since moved on to Texas and I'm in Illinois. He offered to sell it to me at a great price. Only problem is I hardly know the guy and while I trust him I'd just as soon make this as stress free as possible. I want to send him money for the title and I want to be sure that title is somewhat "secured" or a better way of putting it would be that before he gets the money I get a clear title. Has anybody done this before? I'm sure I could hire a lawyer and have him be a middle man of sorts but there has to be a better way. Any ideas?? Sandy

[DaveL 0]

Saw your post this morning. Am a lawyer, but really the advice given above is as good if not better than most lawyer's would do. In fact went through the same thing personally when i was living in New Orleans. Had a difficult time getting the title. Some of the texan tranient cowboys don't think of a thing like that. I would say the first thing to do is check to see if the title is clear. Go to the TX dept of motor vehicles website and first do a search on the flood damage. Since you have the VIN # the website will pull up whether the vehicle has been registered as flood damaged Second get the form for title history--may taske a while for search but you'll find if the guy stiffed the bank--or still owes. Look to see how much an escrow service will cost. Paypal and others do have this service for non-auction items at 3 or 4 % of purchase may be worth it to use. I agree with Dutch you are in drivers seat. E- mail me if you have any other questions-- but i wouldn't pay for a lawyer either-will do you no real good and can scare the other guy off unless the lawyer is smart enough to handle it with finesse and good people skills -an oxymoron for most of our profession--Dave

[DaveL 0]

thought of something else-each state is different in how the title may show it has a lien on it--in fact some states do not show this on the title--I would go ahead and try to get they guy to show face to face if possible but still research the tx we site and make some phone calls to tx just to verify they guy actually has title to it himself and doesn't owe someone for the vehicle my two cents Dave

[Kent 436]

Unless they've changed since I lived there in the mid-80's, I think Texas is one of the states that shows the lienholder on the title, the lienholder gets the original copy, and the owner has a duplicate until the loan is paid off... This is based on OLD memories, but I think that's how it worked.

[Sandy 0]

Dave, Thanks for the advice. I checked and apparently it hasn't been in a flood. Hooray!! I also checked the deal with the title stuff but it said you needed a fax to get any information, (at least that's what I came up with), haven't got a fax either. I talked to the guy Saturday and he was supposed to call back today, (never did). He said the truck was paid for long ago and that Ford or the bank still had the title and he'd have to get hold of it and get back to me with the details after that was done. I really don't think there will be a problem as I'm pretty sure everything is on the up and up anyway. He's paid me everything I wanted and he could come and haul it out of here if he wanted to as far as I'm concerned. I'll see what develops over the next few days. Thanks for everyones help. Sandy