A power of attorney for real estate gives one person the legal authority to act on behalf of another person in matters related to real estate transactions. Scope of the POA: The POA must explicitly include the authority to conduct real estate transactions on behalf of the principal.This indispensable form contains everything you need to make a valid power of attorney for real estate in the Empire State. Power of attorney can only be used to sell a property before death. After the principal's death, the property must be sold through the probate process. If I have durable power of attorney can I sell property? It is a farm, belonging to my mother, but she does not live. The realtor, title company and many others will need copies of the POA as you move forward. We will examine using a power of attorney to sell a house, how it works, and when it might be a practical solution. A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document giving one person (described below as the "agent") the power to legally bind another person.