Chapter 25 - The sale almost fails
Briarcrest buyer’s lender found the old protection-order and divorce litigation? Not a title issue.
More relevant:
Vivian’s dismissed unjust-enrichment case still appeared in county docket.
No recorded lien.
Title company asked for dismissal documentation.
Mara provided.
Then Daniel’s prior reimbursement claim.
Divorce decree released.
Provided.
Northlight title clear.
Then survey.
A fence encroached eighteen inches onto neighboring lot.
Ordinary problem.
We signed boundary agreement.
No secret family bomb.
Then buyer requested:
$22,000 credit for roof flashing and HVAC.
Northlight agreed $12,000.
Settled at $15,000.
Closing scheduled.
Then, two days before closing, Daniel’s former attorney notified us:
Alder Row sponsor agreement referenced “Briarcrest residence support.”
Could MidState claim lien?
No.
Never executed.
Bank confirmed no security interest.
Title company cleared.
That final question mattered because it proved how easily draft language could become mythology.
No lien.
No guaranty.
No hidden mortgage.
Just a lender draft that required my consent and never got it.
Then closing.
Sale price:
$2.925 million after final credit structure? Let's keep 2.94 less 15k credit. Recorded sale $2.94M, seller credit $15k.
Mortgage payoff.
Closing costs.
Taxes.
Northlight retained net cash for reinvestment.
No Daniel share beyond already settled $122,500.
Done.
Then I moved into a smaller townhouse Northlight did not own.
I bought personally.
Why?
Simplicity.
Price:
$780,000.
Conventional mortgage.
No marble island.
Wood counters.
Sunny office.
When title company asked:
“Marital status?”
Divorced.
One word.
Then wedding ring.
I sold it.
Proceeds:
$9,400.
I donated none.
No symbolic charity.
I put it into my emergency fund.
Because security is also allowed to be boring.
Then Daniel’s protection order was due to expire in two months.
Would I extend?
No recent threats.
No contact violations.
No intimidation.
Elise said:
“We can evaluate closer.”
No need make future promise.
Then Vivian’s knee surgery recovery ended.
Daniel moved back to apartment.
Their relationship?
Civil.
Not healed.
May you like
Not destroyed.
Not my job.
