Your elderly parents are ready to sell the family home and move into something easier for them to maintain, but they don't want to be bothered with all of the details, and they trust you to make it happen for them. Or you're right in the middle of a real estate transaction and your spouse gets called out of town on business for two weeks. No need to panic.

In both of these circumstances, and in many others, the transaction can proceed, even if a principal to the transaction is unavailable to sign those important documents.

In California, escrow companies can create a power of attorney - special that applies to the purchase or sale of a single residence. If more than one property is being bought or sold, a power of attorney is needed for each of them. Of course, each power of attorney document needs to be notarized.