Chapter 9 - THE CASH BUYER
Harbor Ridge Homes cooperated.
They were not villains.
Their acquisition manager said:
“Sancia represented herself as authorized attorney-in-fact.”
They ran preliminary title.
They did not know family dispute.
Purchase price reflected:
Roof age.
Interior repairs.
Fast cash close.
Could it have been higher on open market?
Probably.
Did Sancia choose low price to steal value?
No evidence.
She chose speed.
Why speed?
Because Eleanor’s rehab discharge was approaching.
Sancia wanted the house empty before Eleanor could return.
There.
Email to Harbor Ridge:
Occupant will be removed before closing.
Another:
Owner is transitioning permanently to supported living.
False.
Eleanor had not decided that.
Then title company asked:
Please provide written owner approval required by Section 7(b) of POA.
Sancia replied:
Owner’s rehabilitation status makes direct signatures difficult.
Not true.
Eleanor could sign.
Then:
I will obtain confirming letter.
She never did.
Then an email to Linden Court:
Home sale is underway. Please hold Unit 214.
Again.
She built the future as though decisions were finished.
Then the notice to me.
Not served.
Draft.
Then one line in Sancia’s notes:
Once Radnor is out, Mom will stop romanticizing going home.
There.
Not:
once repairs are done.
Not:
once doctors advise.
Remove Radnor, then Eleanor will choose differently.
Social engineering.
Then another:
Maelle living there makes Mom emotional.
My daughter included as leverage.
Then:
Juniper gets treated like a visitor in her own grandmother’s house.
There.
The cousin ranking connected directly to property.
Sancia believed residence had changed family hierarchy.
Maelle’s medals on the mantel.
Her sneakers at the door.
Her inhaler in the kitchen drawer.
Juniper’s overnight bag.
Visible difference.
Sancia wanted to remove the environment that made Maelle look central.
The property sale was not only elder-care planning.
It was family-status correction in Sancia’s mind.
Then Naomi said:
“Tomorrow, Melissa finishes the POA transaction review.”
“What are we expecting?”
“Whether Sancia transferred money, benefited herself improperly, or merely exceeded authority in trying to sell.”
Important.
If no money moved, do not invent theft.
Then Eleanor said:
“I want to attend.”
Her lawyer recommended remote participation due rehab.
Fine.
Then Sancia’s attorney requested confidentiality.
Reasonable.
No family audience.
The central secret would finally become precise.
Not:
Sancia wanted the house.
Not:
May you like
Sancia stole the house.
What exactly had she tried to do?
