[Questions Concerning Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Certain Real Estate Expenses]
Highlights
The Naval Facilities Engineering Command requested a decision regarding the entitlement of a transferred employee to reimbursement for real estate transaction expenses incident to a transfer. The employee had purchased a residence at his new duty station and was charged a loan transfer fee and an association transfer fee. Travel regulations permit reimbursement of loan origination fees and similar fees and charges but not items considered to be finance charges. GAO held that the employee's loan transfer fee was reimbursable because such a fee is similar to an origination fee. The association fee was not reimbursable, since it was a nonreimbursable maintenance cost. Further, membership fees are considered a part of the purchase price and not a part of the purchase costs or expenses. Accordingly, reimbursement for allowable expenses was authorized.