Are inspections mandatory?

MarkR profile photo

I need to know specifically about NJ law. I am selling my house to my parents. This is an arm's length transaction but basically so I can get some equity of the house and get back on my feet financially. I'm staying here and they are staying in their house. I will buy it back from them in a few years. I'm trying to get the mortgage work done and need to know if NJ law makes the termite, smoke detector, sewer inspections and a new survey mandatory. The local title company tells me they don't care. The mortgage company in Texas tells me they don't care. My parents don't care. I'm trying to get this done before Xmas or at least before the end of the year and in the interests of time I'd like to avoid waiting for inpectors to come over and sign off on what I already know. I have the certs and survey from when I bought the house in 1994 if that makes a difference.

Comments(4)

  • Vern18th December, 2002

    The only group that cares about the inspection is the buy and the ones funding the property. Therefore if your parents will not be needing money to fund the property then, on you do not need an inspection. Sometimes the insurance company wants to know the condition property before they issue insurance.

  • MarkR18th December, 2002

    This is specific to NJ law? The township tells me it has to sign off on sewer and smoke detectors whenever there is a change of ownership, no big deal as I got them to agree to come out tomorrow and Friday. Neither the title company or the mortgage company drones can help me. The title company says they only go by what the mortgage company tells them they want but they've never been party to a closing where getting inspections or not was an issue. The mortgage company tells me the title company is local here and they would know if there are any state specific laws that have to be followed. I just don't want to get to closing and find out that nothing will happen without a new survey or termite inspection. I understand some states have mandatory termite inspections and some states require a new survey if the old one is more than 10 years old for instance. I'm doing all this without the benefit of a real estate agent or lawyer so I want to make sure I cross my "I's"***Must have at least 5 friends to unlock***y "T's". Thanks for your help.

  • MarkR18th December, 2002

    Or cross my T's***Must have at least 5 friends to unlock***y I's as the case may be.

  • maglib6th January, 2003

    Check with the local county. You will need a number of specific inspections to get the cert. of occupancy in NJ. I know we were required to have a furnace and chimney cleaning and testing on all fire detectors, windows, locks and a bunch of other stuff and termite inspection prior to allowing the certificate of occupancy to be issued in Marlboro Twp.

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