Housing hassles
The American Justice System is not just.
A few years back I chose to buy a new home, but to do that I had to sell the one that I lived in. My realtor found a couple that were interested but couldn’t get the proper financing. They asked to rent the property for a year until the man was in the reserves and could get help from being a veteran. We sat down and to enter in to a lease option agreement. All the necessary paperwork was there and they held $5000.00 in earnest money to insure they would fulfill the purchase of the home.
When the time came for them to purchase the home it had lost value. I came up with a plan to make up most of that difference. When my realtor and I went to the meeting that we were to make our proposal we didn’t even get a chance to discuss it. They made the claim the house was in to bad of shape to live in and the wanted to breach the contract. They also requested the money back to which I said no.
Now a year latter they are suing me.
All that is not the in just part. These people are on welfare and because of there indigence They have found free legal representation. It cost them nothing. I on the other hand I am looking at paying the same amount they are suing for to defend myself. I lose either way.
To make matters worse the home continues to loose value. I cannot sell it and because I owe more on the note now that the home is worth. On top of that it is on a flex interest rate even rent that I get for it does not pay enough to meet the what I owe in interest.
Look I have never gotten help from anyone. I work hard and pay my bills but because someone that doesn’t have to pay for their attorney is suing me I have lost even before I step into the courtroom
This letter has not been edited.
I feel for you.
I am a longtime legal worker. I used to have a cartoon on my desk (that wasn't very funny but spoke to your circumstance). It was an attorney speaking to a man behind bars, saying, "If you didn't rob the bank, where are you gonna get the money to pay my fee to prove your innocence?!"
At least you still have title to the place, take a deep breath and begin the rehab soon as you can.
David:
Call Metro Lawyers...maybe they can help find an attorney for you or at least set up a meeting to go over your defenses...I might also counter-claim if the facts present themselves...
Posted by cheryl on August 31, 2007 02:32 PMAren't you the blue Power Ranger?
Posted by Hmm on August 31, 2007 02:54 PMI'm a little confused. How exactly did the letter writer get screwed? He made the choice to do a rent-to-own deal, and maybe the couple really did discover after living in the house for a year that it was in bad shape.
Also, what was his "plan to make up the difference" of his house having lost value? Sounds to me like he wanted to pass that on to the potential buyers, which doesn't sound very ethical in my book.
Posted by mytwosense on August 31, 2007 05:02 PMIn re-reading the letter, I might have completely misunderstood what the writer said, though. Maybe he meant he would absorb the lost value himself, assuming that they had a previously agreed upon price.
Posted by mytwosense on August 31, 2007 05:04 PM