It's not the first time that does it to you

[xthread]

"Your house is wonderful, I really like what you've done with it."
"Thank you. Not having hardwood floors was one of the few real flaws with the place when I found it, I'm really happy to have gotten that fixed finally."
"How long have you owned it?"
"I don't."
"What?! You don't own the place, but you're putting floors in and redoing the entire front of the house?"
"Well, there's a funny thing there. The owner was an old lady who died three years ago. Her children can't stand each other, and it's been tied up in the estate ever since."
"But I don't see how..."
"Well, after the first year of the rent checks not being cashed, it was starting to kinda burn a hole in my bank account. So I thought about it for a while, and decided to invest it all. Occasionally I'll pull some out and spend it on home improvements. If anyone ever figures out to come ask me for back rent, I've made more than that on the dividends, and they'll probably let me deduct all the improvements anyway."
"And in the meantime, you're not paying property tax on it."
"Exactly. Worst case, the county eventually grabs it for back taxes, I pay those off, and I've won. Now where'd I put that chianti..."

------

Once is curious. Twice is suspicious. Three times is a condition.

Comments

[a-steep-hill.livejournal.com]

You're kidding, right?

[cerevisiae.livejournal.com]

I'm not a lawyer, of course, but I don't think they need the county to seize it. If they live there without paying rent for some period of time (five year? seven years?) and pay the taxes, they end up owning it by virtue of their "open and notorious adverse possession."

[japlady.livejournal.com]

GRIN, ok you realize for me that was foreplay?

[sierra-nevada.livejournal.com]

Document everything thoroughly. Send certified letters.

I'm kinda surprised the executor of the estate hasn't been making sure that the contents of the estate are operating properly while it's all tied up in probate. That would seem to me to be basic due diligence.

Really?

[generalist.livejournal.com]

Hi!

Does this posting relate to your current living situation, or is it just a fun fantasy?

Cheers! generalist

[missionista.livejournal.com]

Agreeing with Sierra Nevada above. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. And send all mail (incl. ret checks) certified mail, return receipt requested. You might want to send those rent checks to an escrow account, so you can show good faith attempt to pay...

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

Beautiful.

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

Who's doing this??

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

I know you haven't lived in your current house for a year, so this can't be you.. So, um, who is it?

PS: I'm flying out to SJC on Saturday; we should get together next week.

[d3l1r1um.livejournal.com]

I think you're making this up. Stop breaking people :)