Normal time to return Closing Docs

[CSLucas]

With an international seller, how long is normal for closing docs to be returned? They were sent on March 2, and the contract closing date is April 9. I fully realize there isn't really anything anyone can do besides continuing to prompt them, but is this normal?
My first resale contract was not an international buyer and everything was returned and closed within a week. I'm getting a little antsy because there are 2019 UY points banked that need to be used, and we were planning on using them for an August trip (what we want is still available as of this morning, but of course with it being well within the 7 months it could go at any moment).

 

[sndral]

The sellers on my second resale contract were in England, mailing the documents from England added about 10 days. Ironically that one closed faster than my first resale contract, the sellers although both in the U.S. were divorcing & it took forever for both to sign.
The problem right now for international sales may be w/ finding a notary - see this thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/international-notary-first-american-no-help.3826945/

 

[CSLucas]

The sellers on my second resale contract were in England, mailing the documents from England added about 10 days. Ironically that one closed faster than my first resale contract, the sellers although both in the U.S. were divorcing & it took forever for both to sign.
The problem right now for international sales may be w/ finding a notary - see this thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/international-notary-first-american-no-help.3826945/

I hadn't thought about mail time. I'm following up with the title company again today, but of course there's nothing they can really do. At least it's only 11 more days of waiting!

 

[Sandisw]

I hope it’s just a matter of they had trouble at first with the notary and they are in the mail. But when that piece is difficult as it is during Covid, then it does add time.

Hopefully the title company can at least find out why.

 

[Noodlez]

I'm not sure that the location of your sellers makes too much difference. Some people are just a lot slower than others! I've only bought so far, but I'm in the UK and were able to do everything over email and via docusign. Our US seller took weeks longer than we did, but I guess they weren't in much of a hurry. They'd owned the contract for many years so I don't suppose the time made much difference to them. It was out first contract so we were obviously keen to get our points!

I can't speak for sellers form other countries, but I think personal and financial circumstances drive the speed of the return far more than location. The only actual delay I know of when selling from the UK is that it is slightly harder to find a notary so this may take two or three days, rather than being able to have it done instantly over there (from what I've heard.)

 

[Sandisw]

I'm not sure that the location of your sellers makes too much difference. Some people are just a lot slower than others! I've only bought so far, but I'm in the UK and were able to do everything over email and via docusign. Our US seller took weeks longer than we did, but I guess they weren't in much of a hurry. They'd owned the contract for many years so I don't suppose the time made much difference to them. It was out first contract so we were obviously keen to get our points!

I can't speak for sellers form other countries, but I think personal and financial circumstances drive the speed of the return far more than location. The only actual delay I know of when selling from the UK is that it is slightly harder to find a notary so this may take two or three days, rather than being able to have it done instantly over there (from what I've heard.)

Sellers require the notary so as a buyer it was possible to do it quickly like you did.

But, even in the US. It can take time to coordinate to get the papers to someone to notarize. We sold one of ours a few years back and it was about a week before we could do it.

Now, with Covid we are hearing it’s even harder especially in the UK. But, I agree, if the seller has to come up with cash to close because they have financing, this can delay too n

 

[Noodlez]

Sellers require the notary so as a buyer it was possible to do it quickly like you did.

But, even in the US. It can take time to coordinate to get the papers to someone to notarize. We sold one of ours a few years back and it was about a week before we could do it.

Now, with Covid we are hearing it’s even harder especially in the UK. But, I agree, if the seller has to come up with cash to close because they have financing, this can delay too n

I'm not sure if you're agreeing or disagreeing! My point was that finding a notary is the only part that could take a UK seller a little longer, but if you're saying it's just as hard to do it over there then I stand by my point that the normal time is nothing to do with location but is instead to do with personal circumstances.

 

[CSLucas]

All good points. I'm just hoping they don't decide to back out. We are definitely overpaying a bit (so I assumed they would be anxious to close), but it has full 2020 points plus almost full points banked from 2019 and just happens to be the perfect amount that we need for a surprise trip for my daughter's birthday. I of course knew it was a gamble trying a resale so close to when we were booking the trip, but I did not count on a month delay for closing documents to be returned!

 

[Sandisw]

I'm not sure if you're agreeing or disagreeing! My point was that finding a notary is the only part that could take a UK seller a little longer, but if you're saying it's just as hard to do it over there then I stand by my point that the normal time is nothing to do with location but is instead to do with personal circumstances.

I think what I was saying is that normally notary can take a little based on circumstances but now that is taking longer than typical in both places, even if seller has no other personal things delaying it.
So even if it is only a notary, I have read that people in certain parts have not had success for weeks when it used to be easy.

I had to have something notarized here in the states in January and it took 2 weeks in NY to schedule an appointment at my bank. Normally was a walk in service.