How to Purchase Real Estate in Palm Springs CA Internationally

International home purchasers are common in Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs and the surrounding cities have a high percentage of international home buyers and snowbirds because the weather is sunny and warm year round. Most international home buyers pay cash for their purchase but some do finance as financing is available for reasonable interest rates these days.

If you are to be international at the time you complete your purchase in Palm Springs, your agent should know which options for international signings and notaries will be acceptable by the recorder's office across the United States. I sold a home earlier this year to a Canadian buyer that financed a portion of his purchase. Luckily the transaction went smooth and closed on time.

When signing or notarizing  real estate documents outside of the United States border, things can go haywire fast if you aren't knowledgeable in international purchases. Quite often signing recordable documents internationally is not given significant thought or consideration until it’s the day before closing. If you are signing documents internationally, you should allow for a minimum of 7 additional days in your escrow or closing.  

The following are acceptable options by the recorder's offices across the United States.

The U.S. Embassy or Consulate is the best option. Click here to find the nearest U.S. government location. Acknowledgments issued by these locations are acceptable for recording and insurable by title companies in the United States. The home purchaser will need to schedule an appointment for the signing and it could be scheduled as far out as a week.

You may also use an Apostille, the international certification of public documents as ratified by the Hague Convention. There are over 60 countries that are member states of the Hague Convention including: Mexico, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Canadians can also use a judge or Court of Records process but this option can be very challenging as the courts may not have availability and could be booked for months in advance. The best option is to go with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

If you are financing part of your purchase and you will be international at the time of the signing, make sure you take the time to find an acceptable solution for your signing and acknowledgments. Today’s Realty Group offers it’s Canadian home buyers and sellers free consultations with a local attorney for legal and tax consequences.  If you are an international buyer, call or email us today! We would love to help you purchase your home in Palm Springs, CA.

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