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You may have noticed from the brief [June 20] post below, it is now official, as of June 20, 2007 we own the Palmetto Guesthouse on Culebra. Remember, this post ONLY discusses the closing, so as you read through and get near the end of the day and you see how we have to race around keep in mind that we have had NINE months of this. Also, although I make light of the situation below this purchase would have never have happened if it was not for the efforts of our attorney, Ignacio, Sara at Metro Island Mortgage, Joe, and Sandra Wagner of Blue Horizon Realty who stuck with us when most other realtors would have been laughing at us. If you are looking to buy on Culebra we highly recommend her. Post starts now.

During the flight we were joking that the next time we got on a plane not only would we own a house in the Caribbean but a business, as well. However, we also tried to temper our enthusiasm and keep in mind that this is the Caribbean and at any moment a kink could easily be thrown into the chain of our scheduled closing. Thus, after an uneventful half hour flight and smooth landing on one of the most important days of our lives we were off to the mall. Yes, the mall, because I am told when you are female and live on a 12×3 island with 20,000 people and no “real” shopping that is what you do when you have time to kill.

When we had completed the obligatory retail therapy we jumped in a cab and got ripped off 13 dollars for the five-minute ride to Metro Island Mortgage where we were greeted by the receptionist and waited for everyone else to show up. Sandra Wagner, the seller’s broker, and the loan officer, Sara, followed shortly and Sandra let us know that the seller would be arriving a “little” late but that it was no problem because she had power of attorney. With all of the requisite persons now present we shuffled off to a conference room to sign and initial lots and lots of documents with Sara, Sandra, and two of Metro Island’s attorneys.

Terrie signs while I am on the floor having a panic attack over the cost of hurricane insurance.<

While in the conference room signing away I received a call from our attorney, Ignacio, and he let me know that he had to meet with another client and would not be coming to the (scheduled) closing. He also informed me that since he would not be able to make it we would now have to go by his office when we were done at Metro Island to sign some other official loan documents. If possible, he preferred the seller be present too (and not use Sandra’s power of attorney). Normally this wouldn’t have been a problem but Terrie and I both had afternoon flights to make and the seller was actually just arriving at the airport because his plane had been delayed in New York and he still needed to collect his luggage and get through customs and immigration.

Don’t smile just yet.

Well, we finally got out of Metro Island Mortgage a couple of hours later and made our way to Ignacio’s office where we signed more documents but there was still no sign of the seller. As it turns out, after his delay, Joe (the seller) had decided to stay at the airport because he had to catch a connecting flight at four o’clock (it was now like 3:00). With our signatory duties completed and time running out to be able to get the seller’s signature before he got on his connecting flight we piled into Ignacio’s car and headed for San Juan International Airport. Coincidentally, it was also getting very close to the check in time for my flight back to Tortola.

Curbside checkin…not quite.

Luckily with Ignacio driving we managed to navigate the infamous San Juan traffic and made it to the airport where we pulled up to the American Airlines terminal, which was the predetermined meeting spot. Sandra got out of the car and after searching for a few minutes she found Joe and brought him over to meet us. I must say that after nine crazy months of (insufficient funds, false mortgage approvals, bad appraisals, comatose bank employees, etc) trying to close this purchase, which required a tremendous effort on everyone’s part there could not have been a more apropos location for it to come to an end. So, we finalized the sale right there with Ignacio’s car live parked at the curb and the hazard lights on, all of us huddled on the bustling sidewalk at San Juan International and the remaining legal documents were signed, which made us the official Palmetto Guesthouse owners.

Finally

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