What can my husband do at this point ?
February 24, 2010 by
Filed under realestate rentals
(I posted this question under realestate also)My husband recently got served a paper letting him know that his deceased mother’s home was about to be taken for deliquent property taxes. My husbands mother died in the early 1990’s, but she did not leave a Living Will which left the house house listed as the estate of so & so.All six of her children apparently have a part of the house. Upon his mothers death my husband and his older brother lived in the home. My husband paid the house off himself and paid the property taxes up until he moved out in 1999 and had his own house built. My husband left his big brother with the mothers house paid off and taxes up to date! Fast forward to the present- the brother never paid one property tax in ten years since my husband left the home house. I told my husband 9 years ago he was making a mistake not getting the taxes from his brother directly but he said he had his own home to worry about and thats a grown man who only has one bill and he will pay it. Well, he never did! M y husband said he’s not worried about it but a paid off house is about to be taken because of his brothers stupidity. Can anything be done to save the house? My husband said hes not going to try to save it because even though he paid the house off his siblings will never put it in his name. Should he just let the property go when it could be a blessing in disguise as a rental or something? The city only contacted my husband because they had him listed as the only persont o ever pay on it. With his siblings should he just call it a wash and let it go or strike a deal with the city?
Thank you guys for the wonderful feedback: )I just want him to fight to save the house because he and his mom worked so hard to keep it.He told me the stories of her almost loosing it multiple times and once he grew into a man he not only paid the monthly note but paid it off. Why he let his brother sit ten years free is beyond me. I think he fears his siblings and that is why he will not have them sign off but now the city is going to take it soon so what a darn waste: (
Well, I think the brother let the taxes go to 20,000 and the house is worth 40,ooo so there is still a little money to be made but some people don’t want anything out of life.
In many cases the city will deed the property to who ever pays the delinquent taxes. He should check with the city clerk first. He might be able to take ownership of the house and evict the brother and the rest of the siblings will no longer matter. This should have been settled years ago with the estate closing. I believe that most states have a statute of limitations on estate closings. Probably should seek advice from a good attorney to protect your assets and prevent action from the siblings.
He can move to take posession by paying off the back taxes and the title will go into his name. Of course if it’s run down, it may not be worth the effort. However, if it’s simply a matter of a little back tax money to totally own a completely viable rental property once he evicts the present tenants(relatives)..you do the math!
Your husband needs to settle his Mom’s estate, and the house sold to the highest bidder, be it family or otherwise. The brother needs to go!