My question involves real estate located in the State of: Georgia
I am a buyer of a Land Contract with House that was legally drawn up, agreed upon by both parties (buyer and seller) then submitted to be recorded to the local County Civil Offices. The land was surveyed per contract then recorded on the plat.
At this time I have been paying the contract month by month but by hand because they lived so close, getting the signed receipts like I should.
Due to a really heavy rain and flooding their house got damaged badly so they moved out. The seller then moved in to a duplex houses a bit down the street. That's ok, I continued to make payments as I always have, on time all the time.
Now here is gets strange... The seller was then busted for meth and illegal weapons! Wow, ok... well not what I expected. Now they have a court date, bailed themselves out and now, for some reason, have not been accepting my payment via mail??
I contacted a lawyer immediately and was advised to send a copy of a bank check for the payment amount with a letter stating that this is a copy and the original will arrive via registered mail. I send this to both the original house and the duplex then sent the original registered mail.
Well they sent the copy back "return to sender" from the duplex and didn't sign for the certified copy. The mail in the original house has been piling up as well. My Lawyer said the next step is to take the certified mail with the original bank check and stuff the whole thing in another envelope and send it normal mail to the duplex (last known living address, I have not been notified of any changes).
Well I received a call a few days ago from the seller stating they are out of state and will come back to pick up the bank check from the post office (it has not yet been 15 days to return to me). They declined to tell me where they live and stated the have "authorized" someone to pick up checks from their last known living address (duplex).
So if they don't pick up the check, is it normal practice to send the unopened certified mail check in another envelope via regular mail to the last known living address?? I'm thinking a relative is living there under their lease.
What are the buyer's rights when a seller is being difficult in accepting the payment?!? For all I know they are running from their court date, will become fugitives or go to jail. That is speculation but I have no other idea.
I have made all reasonable attempts to make this payment. I have always been on time or even early and now it seems the buyer is completely bonkers or really scared.. yeesh!
Any Advice? Never been in this position and it seems rare that the SELLER has problems accepting payment from a BUYER, always seems to be the opposite!!
(If it helps I'm aware of what I can do and the contract was made really well and professional and states that if the seller some-how breaks the contract I can mediate or get judgment on them... so I do have rights).

