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Topic: Buying Lazy Daze out of state (Read 381 times) previous topic - next topic
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Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Hi,
I have been off the boards for a long time.  I had an at the time 18 year old 86 LD multiplan for 10 years. I ended up selling it to an mechanic friend, as things would stop working and it became much and so expensive as I did not have the skills to fix it myself. 

Many of my and my children's best memories was in that little LD.  I am now newly retired, and I am considering flying to Texas from Nevada to look at a LD I am hoping to buy for long trips and to see if fulltiming as a solo is for me before selling my house.

I could pay cash for this one out of savings. I really could not afford a payment, so I am limited on my choices. Would a 1998 be "to old" and asking for problems?  Anyone know off a honest RV mechanic in the Houston area for a pre purchase RV check?

If I did buy it, I would drive it home by myself.  I want to register it here in Nevada.  I am having trouble finding online what I would need to do to get "traveling papers" or permits. 

Also any advise on the most scenic route home?  I would take my time as we are having severe winter weather in northern Nevada.

Thank you very much
Kay P
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #1 –
Hi, Kay--

    I bought LDy Lulubelle in December 2013 in a similar situation (but I took AMTRAK from Kansas City to SoCal, where she lived at the time).   I, too, paid cash, but neither I nor the seller thought about the mechanics of the out-of-state transaction--I'd heard my dad talk all my life about writing checks when purchasing cattle in Texas, & on vacations (even though he had cash & credit cards with him), so I just sailed off with my checkbook.  The sellers' bank intended to hold my check for X days (can't remember, if it was 3, 5 or ?) to make sure it cleared, which meant we couldn't complete the transfer of title/etc. & I was stuck, needing to get back to north Missouri (obligations at home & I wanted to beat the ice storm headed that direction)   :P .   The two-hour time difference meant the bank in Chillicothe was closed, but fortunately, I had my small-town phone book with me, so I called my banker at home, he called downtown to the bank, & they ended up wiring the payment directly from my account to the sellers' bank.  If I were to do something of that magnitude again, I'd have made arrangements with my bank before I left home for them to wire the transfer once I contacted them.  I suppose one could also consider taking a cashier's check as another option.

Good luck with your adventure.   :D

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #2 –
I did call the credit union.  They told me I would have to go to a "share branch" in the area, and that I would be able to get a cashiers check or transfer money as if it was my own credit union.

Thank you! I am hoping everything works out!
Kay P
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #3 –
I bought an Airstream out of state, not quite as risky though cause no motor, tranny etc to worry about! In my case I reviewed all the photos, spoke with the owner and then made an offer based on everything being as represented when we arrived to pick it up. I sent a deposit via paypal and carried a cashier's check for the balance. Not sure what I would have done if things hadn't been ok when we got there. Good luck.
98 MB
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Kay Pozun  - 
Anyone know off a honest RV mechanic in the Houston area for a pre purchase RV check?

Hello Kay.  One of the very best people who can do pre-inspection is Brett Wolfe.  He is highly regarded on many RV forums to include the Foretravel Forum and lives in the Houston area.  I don't have his email address anymore, but I know that Michelle (LDO Moderator) knows Brett and would probably could give you a way to contact Brett.  You could not do any better than asking Brett for assistance.

Welcome back to the LD Forum and the best of luck in this next chapter of your life.
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #5 –
Quote from: Kay Pozun  - 
I did call the credit union.  They told me I would have to go to a "share branch" in the area, and that I would be able to get a cashiers check or transfer money as if it was my own credit union.


Re-check with both your credit union and the shared branch regarding shared branching check withdrawal limits.  We ran into this issue buying a car - there are limits to how much you can withdraw via shared branching, your credit union will have one limit and the shared branch credit union may have a different limit.  IIRC, we were limited to only $5K, and that was our credit union's restriction (which they hadn't told us about).  Cash withdrawal limits are even more restrictive.  Shared branching is great, but it is definitely not as if you are at your own credit union.
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #6 –
Oh my!! 
I will call back the credit union 1st thing in the morning!

Thank you!
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #7 –
I bought my 96 FL with 86,000 miles on it from the original owners in Houston. It was 11 years old when I picked it up.
They had maintained it very well and helped me by letting me stay at their home overnight (a total stranger) after picking me up at the airport and taking me out to lunch. We then went to their RV repair facility that had been doing the work on it since new, and I talked with the guy and he said they always kept it up in top condition. The RV genset was running and the A/C was blasting away when we picked it up. This let me know that these things worked. For payment, I wired the money into their account and we transferred the ownership paperwork. It still had current Texas plates and registration and they let me keep that for the trip home. I drove it back across Texas and to New Mexico where I registered it there.
I have now had it 9 more years and I have been very happy with how this transaction went.
Jota
96 23.5 FL
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #8 –
Kay,

I'm no expert on such things having only done it once.  Here's my experience: After I contacted the folks that I eventually purchased my LD from in Texas, I talked with my bank prior to leaving home about doing a direct transfer from my Money Market account to another bank if necessary.  There were no special requirements, just some formalities to confirm I was the account holder when\if I called to make the transfer. 

When the time came to complete the transaction (around noon on a Friday), I had the sellers bank routing number, called my bank, completed the formalities and had them transfer the agreed upon amount to the sellers account.  Once the transfer was confirmed by their bank, we went to the local Texas DMV and transferred the title, then went and had a great lunch at the sellers favorite restaurant.  I'd also called my insurance company and provided them with the information they needed to insure the vehicle.  So, by day's end, the title to the RV was in my name, it was insured, and I left for home the next day.  AFAIK, there is nothing else that you would need to have to pick up an RV in another state and drive it home. 

There are others here with more wisdom on the subject, and other experiences that will vary from mine, but with just a little planning to make sure I understood what was possible, my purchase went very smooth and trouble free. 

Good luck, hope this helps.




Bill
2003 -- 23' FL
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #9 –

When the time came to complete the transaction (around noon on a Friday), I had the sellers bank routing number, called my bank, completed the formalities and had them transfer the agreed upon amount to the sellers account. 

One other thing to check when planning a wire transfer. Banks have different cutoff times during the day, usually mid afternoon, after which they won't initiate a transfer until the next morning. Don't know if the receiving bank has a similar restriction, but it would be good to check with both ends to make sure you don't have a delay. -- Jon
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #10 –
I've been following this thread with some interest as I've been pondering the logistics of purchasing a high-value vehicle, such as a used LD.  For many of us, it represents the largest non-real estate transaction we have ever made and don't really want to carry around tens of thousands of dollars hanging out of our pockets when ready to start seriously searching. I know that when you find a good, used, LD you must pull the trigger quickly.

Can I assume that many of of the methods mentioned above can be used for in-state (California) transactions as well?
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #11 –
We made the transaction very simple.  Buyers and sellers went to a branch of Wells Fargo (our bank) and we obtained a Cashier's Check made out to the Sellers while they stood next to us.  Then we signed the title and a Bill of Sale.   The deal was complete.  Hope this helps.
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #12 –
"One other thing to check when planning a wire transfer. Banks have different cutoff times during the day, usually mid afternoon, after which they won't initiate a transfer until the next morning. Don't know if the receiving bank has a similar restriction, but it would be good to check with both ends to make sure you don't have a delay." -- Jon

Very good point, Jon!  That did not come up in my inquiry with my bank before leaving for Texas, and I didn't know enough to ask.  Had it been an issue, it would have forced my lady and I to drive 350 miles back home empty-handed so to speak, and then make the trip again the next week.
Bill
2003 -- 23' FL
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #13 –
Quote from: Traxless  - 
We made the transaction very simple.  Buyers and sellers went to a branch of Wells Fargo (our bank) and we obtained a Cashier's Check made out to the Sellers while they stood next to us.  Then we signed the title and a Bill of Sale.   The deal was complete.  Hope this helps.

Thanks for your response, Ed. I should have given more information as I "bank" at a small local credit union so it's unlikely I'll have a branch available.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
 
Re: Buying Lazy Daze out of state
Reply #14 –
Last spring I flew from Oregon to California to purchase. I got a cashiers check from my credit union. I met the seller in his banks parking lot. We went into his bank and a teller called my credit union to confirm that the check was valid. It was a Saturday so I had to be sure we met before my credit union closed. No problem. Then I drove home.
2004 MB