House purchase / Seller is pushing for closing - Idea collection

Hello everyone,

the following situation:

House built around 1960, two apartments, the upper apartment rented to a family who receives the costs from the social welfare office.
The lower apartment is occupied by my acquaintance, who inherited a lifelong right of residence.
The lower apartment was completely renovated back then including electrical wiring, radiators, etc. the upper apartment is unrenovated. Heating is provided centrally via a gas boiler, age: well, very old :-) (only upstairs, downstairs there is a new gas boiler)
Facade: unrenovated, roof: unrenovated, basement: damp but okay.

All these years there was pressure because the heirs, i.e. the current owners, did not really accept the right of residence and always caused problems.

Now suddenly a change of attitude, the house should be sold as quickly as possible and is therefore being offered to my acquaintance. Basically okay, they just want to still enjoy their residual inheritance, apparently there are no more heirs. But: They suddenly pressure that this should be done by January. Do you have any ideas what the catch might be?

Regards
Roger

You don't buy under pressure!

Your "acquaintance" must then be related to or connected by marriage with the current owners? Or am I mistaken?

Why should she? Because of the right of residence? There are other reasons .. You don’t buy under pressure – generally correct. But you also inform yourself before the purchase and exploit potential weaknesses. However, you have to know them. The situation as it is now (owner lets the house decay) is also not ideal – in that case, a purchase would be very positive.

The question is also, does [Wohnrecht] mean that she lives in the house for free? If yes, then why should she buy it??? She will have to do renovations herself anyway, whether she owns it or not, and if she lives for free or very cheaply, she would have to pay the purchase price in addition to possible renovations, without there being a practical advantage for her. When someone is put under pressure, it is in very few cases to their advantage; otherwise, the pressure would not be necessary.

First, gently pull the handbrake.

The house can only be sold (as long as the right of residence exists) with a very large discount.

As your acquaintance, I would definitely not sign anything that serves as "preparation." Especially not when it concerns this right of residence.

I believe the real issue lies elsewhere, usually with a lack of money, of whatever kind and amount, by whomever.

I would agree with my predecessors.

So first, request an offer that one envisions.

Maybe they just need money quickly. Or the house is becoming too expensive. I could imagine that the old heating system might no longer be legally allowed in the house.