[Claim for Reimbursement of Real Estate Expenses]

The Department of Housing and Urban Development requested a decision concerning the entitlement of an employee to reimbursement for a real estate commission and an appraisal fee in connection with the sale of his residence at his former duty station after relocation. GAO has held that a real estate broker's commission may only be reimbursed where an employee has incurred a legally enforceable obligation. Although the employee acted in good faith when listing his property with a salesman, GAO found that the employee did not have a legally enforceable obligation to pay the salesman. In addition, GAO found that the employee failed to prove that he paid the appraisal fee. Accordingly, the claim was denied.