[Claim for Real Estate Expenses]

An authorized certifying officer of the General Services Administration requested an advance decision as to whether reimbursement may be made to an employee for the cost of title insurance on real property. This property was traded as a downpayment on a residence he purchased at his new duty station. However, the traded property was not his residence at either his old or new duty stations. GAO stated that there is no authority to permit reimbursement to the employee of the cost of the title insurance incurred in connection with the trade-in of his other property as a downpayment. Accordingly, the reclaim voucher may not be certified for payment.