My spidy senses are tingling. So I talk to a lawyer this morning. He said (like a lot of you) the best way to do this is you both go to the bank, plop down 10K and have him sign the title there and then. So I decided that is the way I would proceed. I give this guy a call and tell him the plan. Now, all of a sudden, the bank doesn't have title, the state has title, so they can't produce it to sign it over. That was it, I had enough. I told him that I was sorry, but unless I had that title in my hand at the same time I put 10K on the table, I would have to walk. I told him that it's not that I don't trust him, and he then interrupted me and got a nasty. He said, well, it is that you don't trust me in a very nasty tone. I told him that trust isn't the issue, it's business. Suppose that while you are waiting for this title, something happens to you. A car wreck, a lawsuit, A heart attack, a meteor drops from the sky, whatever, your kids get a free camper, and I'm out. He told me the kids would sign it over to me because it's the right thing to do. I said I'm sure they would, but they would be under no legal obligation to do so. I'm thinking this guy was trying to pull something at this point. I was still even nice about it and told him if he could get a clear title, I would give him the 10K that day. I think I should get props for being professional and nice. Anyway, the search for an affordable travel trailer continues.

Better to be safe then sorry.Smart move on your part.

Smart man, you made the right choice.

you have to protect yourself and if he was legit he would understand and not get mad.

so he is either illegit or an un-reasonable and angry person either way walk is the right move

Move on, So many trailers for sale.

With the way the ACTUAL economy is trailers may be at a premium, people moving into them selling their homes they no longer can afford!

Oh forgot …..LOL

I think you made the right choice also. One other option I thought about was to tell the guy to go get a short term loan for the $10K. Tell him you will give him the asking price + one months interest (Maybe $200?) on the loan at the title transfer. He pays the loan back w/o an issue and you get the title free and clear. Just a thought. -- Sometimes people (the seller) need ideas how to solve the problem.

Go to farm auctions listing a travel trailer ,brother in law got an 2004 all season 38 ft fith wheel , move in ready for $3800 at a huge ag consignment sale

If it is a “trust” problem, offer to take the trailer now and you will pay him when he gets the title. When he flips about that, ask him why he doesn’t trust you!!

You did the right thing.
I get roped into watching a few of these judge shows where this very thing happens.

Recently on one of the shows, there was a guy who bought a car from a person who said he didn't have the title with him because he had just paid the car off. The bank was mailing the title back to him and he would forward it to the buyer once he got it in the next couple of days.

Turns out the guy still owed money on the car and the bank wouldn't release the title until the car was paid off. The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff who was awarded $5,000. He had paid the seller $8,000 for the car and was out $3,000 as the maximum the judge could allow was $5,000.

If someone ask me how come I don't trust them , I say I don't trust anybody with X $ . Right now seems like everybody around is running into questionable title deals . Several acquaintances have run into things with titles hung up in probate that the kids are trying to sell

I'd of hung up on him.
After telling him title or no deal.
I own a trailer that I don't have a title because I can not find the seller to get a bill of sale.
I assumed the registration was enough when I bought it.
just

I had a bad feeling about a contractor last year, when the $4,200 check bounced I knew I should of walked. Turned out the "contractor" had stolen a couple hundred grand from customers already. Trust people but trust your instincts more.

Something better will come up !

My mom sold Dad.s car after he passed away year later a Deputy stopped by said her car has been sitting on a road abandoned several counties away She said Nope i've got a signed bill of sale from the buyer want to see it He said No thats okay and left I learned something that day And still surprises me when a buyer or seller makes a fuss about putting there name down However i've tried and failed to be as polite as you

Don't know how things work in PA. But in Ind. the state doesn't own squat. I'm the state along with every other Ind. citizen. You did the right thing, someone still has interest in that trailer and they aren't signing over until paid. Just like any other government Fed. Or State. The people own the real property as well as the money in any and all accounts. The govt. may hold it in trust, but the people own it. Your 10 grand ahead, the right deal will come along, and you will sleep better for it. JMO. Good luck.

Scumbags steal a lot less than 10K all the time, smooth move ExLax! LOL

Its actually pretty common for the bank to not have the title in house, when you payoff a loan the bank send a release of lean to the state the state prints a title and mails it out to the owner. In Nevada it can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. I know Pa doesn't recognize bill of sale but here in Nevada they do for this reason. to change ownership here it both bill of sale and title/lean release. Used car lots get a guarantee of title when they take in a used car that has a lean when the make payoff.

Good move on not making his problem, your problem.
Went to a farm sale where a new $ 45000.00 trailer sold for $15000.00. Pulled from local dealer to his home.
Guy had three strokes and would never be able to use it. He had traveled to Pa. for a fancy Dodge pickup to pull it. Never had a chance to use it either.

These issues happen everyday.

You did good