All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

In checking the utility faucet under the bathroom sink a bit ago, my helper found a small drip. In attempting to stop it, the whole thing broke. Several gallons of water flowed before he could get to the main valve and turn the water off.
Turns out that water flowed under the carpet in the adjoining bedroom and the hall. Of course the padding and carpet have absorbed it, but on pressing dry towels to it, I am pulling some moisture out.

Do I let that air dry, put a fan on it, aim a space heater at it, pull the carpet and pad back, what?

Thanks.

Some possibilities:
If your name is not on either the mortgage or the deed, you can simply walk away. Leave. You don’t owe any money or explanation to him or the mortgage co. It’s not your job to take care of him. It IS your job to take care of yourself and your child.

If your name is on the mortgage, but not on the deed, you are in serious trouble. If he refuses to add you to the deed as joint tenant with rights of survivorship, (or another way that your state laws permit that make you the sole owner at his death) you will probably want to make some changes. If he dies without doing that, if he is legally, completely divorced (not just separated) from his wives, his entire estate and property will most likely go totally to his children. You will get nothing. If by some chance you should, most likely it would not be more than half, with his children owning the other half. And YOU paying for it.

If your name is on the mortgage but not the deed, you have options anyway. You need to find out what ALL of them are. Hundreds of thousands of people have walked away from their mortgages over the last couple of years. In fact, the house I just bought and am living in was in that situation. The previous owner walked away from the mortgage, owing about $180,000 dollars.

You will need an attorney to either write the document for him to sign adding you to the deed, so that it fits the criteria of your state law, or to advise you of your situation and rights if you are on only the mortgage.

I am not an attorney, this is not legal advice.
I will add, I would not marry him even if he asks. ESPECIALLY if he asks… Heck, I wouldn’t even live with him.

Originally posted by Caroline Carr:

He is divorced . And I guess I must keep him alive.

Not necessarily. There are many social organizations HE can turn to for help. It is his job to keep himself alive. I agree with Jon. He is using you. If he is disabled, he needs to apply for disability (work) or social security. Both require medical assessments.

Originally posted by Caroline Carr:

I will have to find out what the law is and then go from there I guess I will have to pay for an attorney.

This (Biggger Pockets) is not a law forum. Use the other one suggested to get as much information as you can, including what your rights are and questions you need to ask when you do get an attorney. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a community service representative, some kind of low cost legal help. But you need to know WHAT you need to know before contacting an attorney who will charge a few hundred dollars an hour.
If there is a law school attached to a local college or university, you may be able to get some basic help and information there. Some attorneys offer a half hour or so free. Have a few words of your situation and your most important 3-4 questions ready, so you can get the most info in that time. It goes quickly-be prepared.

Originally posted by Caroline Carr:

He has not offered anything . He keeps promising but nothing happens and I have to worry.

I wonder if this is why he’s been divorced 3 times.
It’s critical that you love yourself and your child, and take care of yourself and your child.

Originally posted by Caroline Carr:

So I guess if I write something or have someone else do it he would not sign it either. Then I guess I would know for sure.

Do what you can do to determine what you need to to make the best decision for yourself and your child. He is the one who really needs you now.
Best wishes in this painful, difficult time.

Originally posted by K C:

He didn't have a job then so he had all day to plot how to mess with me. His friends and family actually helped him scope out my place. But it's been about a year since anything has happened with him.

Unless you know these things AS FACTS, they mean nothing. They are, essentially, your opinion.

Originally posted by K C:

... I think the hidden cameras would be worth it if I actually caught him. Don't you have to post a sign saying there is a video surveillance for it to be admissible in court?

That probably depends on state and local law. There is generally no expectation of privacy in public spaces, but do check your laws. Even just a sign saying "video surveillance" may be enough to deter, but don't count on it. Note all the robberies that take place where there is very obvious video surveilance.

Originally posted by K C:

I also like the idea of posting a reward sign. I think I might do both if I buy the property. With the reward sign, isn't there a possibility of someone damaging something themselves then reporting somebody else for it just to collect a reward?

Note the wording of Mr Foster's sign:
“$XXXXX REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF PERSONS WHO (Describe the crime).
"LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION" pretty much eliminates "someone damaging something themselves then reporting somebody else for it just to collect a reward"

IMO, that is the only right thing to do. Since the makeup of the product is enough to damage electric and appliances, it is more than enough to cause illness/body damage. I'd put it in writing, and get their signature that they received a copy.

It is NOT okay. He is not looking after your interests at all. You said you bought the house together. What does that mean? Are you a co-signer for the mortgage, or is the mortgage only in his name? Are you on the deed, or is the deed in only his name? If you're not sure, dig them out and find out.

If the mortgage is only in his name, YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, and DON'T EVER SIGN ANYTHING SAYING YOU WILL BE. If you do, you will be buying a house for him, and/or whichever (ex) wife gets the house.
In fact, let him go on disability and use that money to pay his bills. You really should not be supporting him. If he is denied social security disability, there's a reason. If his doctors will not fill out the forms, for instance, it's because they don't agree with him that he fits the criteria for being disabled and not able to work.

If he loved you, he would insist on you being on the deed, as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship (JTWROS). Since he is not taking care of you, YOU need to. You need to protect yourself and your own child. Do some role playing, with a friend, or even with your mirror. Practice TELLING him what you want, rather than asking. I need you to add my name to the deed. Here's how to do it--of course, find out so you can tell him. I need for this (______) to happen, etc.
It's okay to trust yourself, and do this for you and your child.

There are two-three other forums that I strongly suggest you start reading. They are at http://community.lawyers.com/forums/

When you scroll down, you see there are forums regarding family law, real estate law,
and trust, wills and estates law. Read for a while, and ask questions there, too.

Ann Landers would say, "Wake up and smell the coffee".

You can bet the cat will be out and about, doing what cats do. That means in YOUR part of the property, as well as theirs...
Cats, visiting in the night (or any other time) aare not fun. There's at least 3 that think my yard is theirs to mess in. I haven't caught them yet.

I've been trying to remember the names of the two Invisible Friends my daughter had when she was a child. She was an only child, and generally alone, other than for me. This morning I finally remembered them.,
The first one was with her longest--over 3 years. My daughter called her Claussa. I never felt any danger from her. The second, who was sometimes there with Claussa, my daughter called Claussa-Berry.

Claussa seemed to me to be tall and thin, Claussa-Berry seemed to be smaller and younger. Both seemed to be young, but at times I felt Claussa was older, maybe even young adult.

On her 5th or 6th birthday, my daughter got a card from her grandmother. It had a little girl on it. The girl was fair skinned, and had curly light brown hair. She got SO excited, jumping with joy. "Mommy, That looks just like Claussa!"

What you are describing does not sound the same to me. I never felt danger, but your tenant does seem to feel that. Since that's the case, she and her children really do need to tell the ghose very firmly to go.

I prepared a detailed answer, but think I'll wait
until someone makes an offer.
On these "comps", the houses are all in the same subdivision anad school district. Tthe construction on all is frame stucco on slab, one story, all are single family residential, style, contemporary. All have central air conditioning, (not evaporative cooling), 2 car garage, and all are at least 3 years newer than mine. One has a pool, one besides mine has a fireplace. Two have “family†rooms, as well as “greatroomsâ€. All are at least 300 sq ft larger. Lot sizes vary.

Thanks. These comps are what has sold in just that section of the subdivision in the last 6 months. Nothing was included from the other sections or neighboring communities, and I know there were sales.
Looking just at the 6 sold comps included,
Date finance list $ sold $ sq ft & $ CDOM
fixer 03/18/2011 CASH L$90,000 S$76,000 sqft/$ 1,239 /$61.34 CDOM148/151

REO 02/28/2011 CONV L$104,900 S$101,500 sqft/$ 1,372 /$73.98 CDOM 7/7

01/14/2011 VA L$99,000 S$99,000 sqft/$ 1,707/$58.00 CDOM120/120

01/07/2011 FHA L$124,900 S$125,000
sqft/$ 1,785 /$70.03 CDOM105/248

HomePath 01/20/2011 FHA L $139,900 S$139,900 sqft/$ 1,604 /$87.22 CDOM 9/390

10/14/2010 VA L $160,000 S$163,000 sqft/$ 1,604 /$101.62 CDOM 62/62

Of these, only the first two are near the size of mine-1280sq ft. Mine is one of the smaller houses in this area/section of the subdivision. As to lot size, I don’t know.