buying UK house while abroad

[pawre]

I want to buy a house in England but I am currently not resident.  A bit awkward.  I am British citizen though.  I have bank approval for my mortgage.  During the course of the transaction after I find my house, what papers will I have to sign from anyone or solicitors?  since I won't be in England.  Will it be possible to fax?  How long will it take (the quickest) if there are no chains involved?  Thanks.

[Rock Mommy]

I have just sold and bought a new house using an online solicitor who we never met and used both fax and post to get all the documents completed - they were sent out to us in advance, so that when the exchange actually happened my solicitor already had our signatures on the relavant 'bits'.  They were very helpful and proved much much cheaper than using a local company. 

We sold to a first time buyer without using an estate agent and moved into a vacant house.  We did it the whole thing in 6 weeks, but that did involve a lot of chasing and phoning on my part.

Good luck

[Didwot]

I cna only assume that Rock Mommy's solicitor has not read the Proceeds of Crime Act, let alone the Law Society's guidance upon that subject, and does not concern himself with the need to be able to positvely idnetify his clients. Yo will need to sign the mortgage deed to give the bank a charge over the house, and possibly the transfer deed (land registry form TR1). Your solicitor will need to be satisfied that you are who you claim to be, and that you are not money laundering.