[Reimbursement of Real Estate Expenses]

GAO responded to a request from the Centers for Disease Control for an advance decision regarding the propriety of reimbursing a transferred employee for an attorney's fees incurred during the purchase of a home at his new official duty station. Regulations require that title of the new home be held in the name of the employee before the reimbursement of real estate expenses may be granted. Upon review of the record, GAO determined that the purchase of a land contract vested the employee with title. Accordingly, assuming the attorney's fees have been found to be reasonable and customary, the expenses may be reimbursed.