When do Tahoe Second Home Buyers get their Keys?
As a Tahoe real estate agent that specializes in working with Tahoe second home buyers and sellers in the greater North Lake Tahoe area my clients have a lot of questions. One of the more frequent questions I’m asked is:
“When do Tahoe Second Home Buyers get their New Home Keys?
In the North Lake Tahoe area we typically use the California Association of REALTORS® (CAR) Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA) to buy and sell residential property.
In the CAR-RPA there is a specific provision that spells out the day and time a buyer is allowed to take possession and get their keys to their new Tahoe Home and it is called:
CLOSING AND POSSESSION
The default, and most common time to take possession, or get the keys to your new Tahoe Second Home for a Seller-Occupied, or Vacant property is
5 P.M. on the date of Close of Escrow
What that means is when the transfer of title occurs, commonly known as “Recording Day”, or the day your sale goes on “Record”.
If you want a different possession date, or time, something that is different than the default when title transfers, then you need to negotiate that different time and day when you create your offer as a buyer, or you need to counter this provision if you are the seller.
If you are a Tahoe second home buyer, you may be worried about securing your new Tahoe home once title transfers and you take possession of the home. What happens if the close of escrow happens on a Wednesday, and you can’t come up to Lake Tahoe until Friday, or Saturday?
Here are some Tahoe Second Home Owner tips for taking possession on your Tahoe Home:
- Ask your Buyers’ Agent to collect the sellers’ keys and hold them until your arrival.
- If your Tahoe Second Home is a member of an HOA group, or your new Second Home is actually a Condominium/Townhouse make sure to remind the seller/listing agent about getting the HOA common area keys/key cards at least 7 days before the close of escrow.
- Ask your Buyers’ agent to deliver your keys, or have them available for pick up on your arrival date.
- Set up a locksmith appointment for the day of possession and have the locks to the home changed at 6 p.m.
- Ask if the home has been checked to ensure the doors and windows are locked and secured on the day of possession.
- Install a push-button / combination lock-box on the exterior of the home. You’ll need this for friends who forget their key, lock themselves out, or when you need to have service people at the home.
There are many things to do when you purchase, or sell your Tahoe Second Home, and knowing when you’ll get, or give your keys is when the real fun begins!
Thinking about making Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out the homes that are for sale here:
Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:
- Tahoe City Homes for Sale
- Tahoe City Condos for Sale
- Tahoe City Lakefront Homes for Sale
- Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale
- North Shore Lake Tahoe Homes for Sale
- West Shore Lake Tahoe Homes for Sale
For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –
Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260 | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304
All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.
When do Tahoe Second Home Buyers get their Keys?