I closed on my newly built home toward the end of September2023. Hilda G. was the escrow officer. She purposely, with intent to makemoney, told me an untruth about why I had to provide almost an additional$5,000 to the closing table. I asked why I had to bring so much extra money.She said for precautionary measures because she had a previous homeowner thatdid not know he had to pay taxes on his home. The story did not make any senseand she assured me that I would receive my money back. She knew that theproperty was going to be reassessed and dated back to January 1, 2023, even thoughthe property was raw land because she had the documents in her hands. I haveThere is no problem with the property being reassessed with a house on the propertymoving forward.
Hilda had the mortgage and tax information prior to the closing taking place.Hilda was supposed to adjust the re-assessed back taxes, just as she did withthe prorated portion of the $500 taxes owed. She did not. Why wouldn't Hilda G.present Ariva Homes with the back taxes due in the closing document at theclosing table just as she did with the previous prorated portion? How many realestate closings, has Hida G. done? Is there anyone else who has had thisexperience and could not understand why they had to pay the reassessed backtaxes versus the builder?
I paid prorated taxes on $500 which was due on raw land, then she had me toinclude an extra 11 months of reassessed value at the closing table. Hilda issaying something completely different than what she has typed in the documentsas I am aware of at this point. Four months later when I received no check inthe mail for overpayment, then I contacted her. Her answer was that she had noway of knowing, even though she asked me to place additional funds on thecashier's check and made me aware of Valley Title is not responsible for unpaidproperty tax according to the clause in the contract. Also, I was not gettingmy money back from Hidalgo County Property Tax Office and the tax office doesnot want to tax the home builders, but the reassessed back dated taxes are tobe paid by the new homeowner. Hilda G. attempted to lead me to believe that itwas Hidalgo County charging back taxes after we closed on the residence, and itwas quite the contrary.
The purpose of hiring Valley Title Company is to make sure there are no taxesowed and liens on the property that will be incurred by the new homeowner. Otherwise,there is no need or benefit of hiring the title company to protect my interest.
I advise anyone purchasing a new home structure in Hidalgo County to use a realestate attorney at the closing verses this type of title company using escrowofficers, as in my case. Additionally, the reputation of any title company andthe escrow officer should be researched and evaluated prior to doing business.
This is such an egregious act that I am having it thoroughly investigated bythe State Bar of Texas, Texas Department of Insurance, Consumer FinancialProtection Bureau, Texas Real Estate Commission, and Financial CrimesEnforcement Network. Valley Land Title Company and the escrow officer Hilda G. warrant further investigation. read more
