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This is to take care of them while they are in assisted living? The family member (grantor) suffers from dementia and is not eligible to receive Medicaid. If not, if the state takes the property because the grantor has to go into a nursing home, can the POA purchase the family property during that process?

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Yes, as long as it is fair market value and the proceeds are used solely for the person who is the owner of the property. When the person needs to go into AL, it would be self pay from the proceeds, until the money runs out, then Medicaid can be applied for.
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You should actually run this by an attorney. You are asking if moms POA can buy her house and that could be a conflict of interest and a breach of fiduciary duties even though though you say the money will go to mom. It’s not as much about the money as it is About you/POA doing something that you personally benefit from. You are essentially asking if the POA can sell themselves moms house.....
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robinsonfy Jan 2020
She is leaving it in her Will to me anyway, but because of her sickness, wanted to ensure that the state didn't take it if she is in a nursing home in the state of Virginia.
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My family member lives in the state of Virginia.
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anonymous912123 Jan 2020
If your family member goes on Medicaid then the home and any proceeds are to be used for their care. If you are trying to figure out how to defraud the system then there will be issues. Medicaid is a government program supported by we taxpayers, so any assets must be used for their care.

You cannot benefit from the transfer or sale of the house. He/she leaving it to you after they pass has nothing to do with it while he/she is alive and in need of a federal assistance program.
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Do you have the ability to transact real estate in the POA? It has to be specifically granted in the POA agreement. In many counties, a POA agreement that can transact real estate has to be recorded with the county.
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You don't mention any price range, or where you live.  If the house generates enough sale funds to trigger capital gains tax, you need to determine this before even considering a sale.   

Liquidating an asset to generate funds isn't something to be done lightly.     I have some reservations that, as someone noted, this could be considered to be something akin to self dealing.

If you hire an investment manager or someone to manage the funds after sale, you're incurring costs that wouldn't otherwise exist.

You really need to speak with an attorney experienced in real estate, Medicaid and elder law, or a firm with specialties in each area.
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So just how do you know elder “not eligible to receive Medicaid”?

Was a Medicaid application started and there’s asset transfers or other money moves in their past that would be red flags for Medicaid? So Medicaid wasn’t filed for?
Just what are the issues for their not being eligible for LTC Medicaid?

it’s- to me - an odd phrase to post, especially if your now trying to find out how to use your dpoa to sell elders property to yourself.
Just sayin’.....
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In my state, under the financial power of attorney laws, an agent cannot engage in self-dealing unless the POA document specifically permits it. The agent buying the property might be considered self-dealing. As others have said, selling the house to someone else at fair market value probably would be okay.
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If the POA forms give you the authority to handle these kinds of transactions, then you can. You need to have the house appraised to make it a fair & legitimate business deal. An appraisal by a licensed appraiser, not the best “price” from a real estate agent. The money MUST be used for her care & you MUST have proof documenting where you spend the money. If you buy it for less than fair market value, you’ve actually cheated her out of money (POA has a legal obligation to act in the BEST interest of the grantor) AND you’ve set yourself up for Medicaid problems later.

If you’re thinking you can buy the property “cheaply” simply because it’s left to you in the will, that’s a huge NO.
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Don't forget that you're eliminating the benefit of full step-up value if you purchase the home while the remaining owner of record is still living.
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I think that Cali would tell you to be certain that you are paying FULL MARKET VALUE if such a thing is done, and if you are doing this. I myself would also caution to pass this past an Elder Law Attorney. It is a little scary to me. But I can see why it would be good.
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