Posted on 08/01/2021 3:39:18 PM PDT by simpson96
CHAUMONT, New York (WWNY) - A Chaumont woman is bidding for the chance to keep her home - one she’s lived in for 10 years. The only problem is she has never owned the land beneath it.
Lottie Heyl has lived in her home since 2010. She says she struck a deal with a village man and his dad to sell her the land and build her a new home. But she says they left her a shell, forcing her to dip into her own pocket to finish it.
“And I told the lawyer then, I said I want to sue him, this is ridiculous,” said Heyl.
She was staying in a summer rental during construction. Once she did move in, the owner never turned over the deed to the house.
“I don’t understand why he would not just call me and turn the house over to me,” said Heyl.
That has created a messy situation with taxes. Because her name isn’t on the property, Heyl has never paid taxes, though she has wanted to and is willing to.
County records show that taxes were paid until March of 2018, then stopped. Because of that, county officials say there are now $45,000 in unpaid taxes.
Now, the property is up for a tax auction, which would eventually give the highest bidder ownership of the land. Heyl put in a bid for $45,000 but has already been outbid.
“By all means, it’s my house other than that darn paperwork that they skipped out on,” said Heyl.(snip)
Jefferson County is in control of the property now. The director of the county’s tax services tells 7 News that Heyl could pay the taxes, but she still wouldn’t own the property.
(Excerpt) Read more at wwnytv.com ...
I guess there must be something in New York’s adverse possession law that precludes her from taking that route.
she’s a squatter.
So what if she fixed the place up.
Where’s her escrow account.
Something’s fishy about the original sale. Ordinarily, when you buy a house, title insurance protects you from this sort of thing.
Is she a member of one of the travelers or others that squat and claim homes and properties that are not theirs? Maybe she just tried the same thing, but got caught. Too bad. Like one of her attorneys say, find a new home to move to.
“County records show that taxes were paid until March of 2018, then stopped. Because of that, county officials say there are now $45,000 in unpaid taxes.”
Three years and $45,000? I bought the tax deed for an abandoned property next door to a house I bought. One acre, a piece of crap house, and two out buildings. Taxes had not been paid for I think 4-5 years. It cost me $762.
Not sure about NY law, but part of any adverse possession claim is that you have paid the property taxes. In this case, she has not done so for 3 years.
15,000 a year in real estate tax..?? How many acres we talking about.?
Real estate contracts for purchase and sale have to be in writing to be valid. Notice how she says she “struck a deal” but no mention of paperwork or her paying anything. If she has a written contract for purchase, and evidence that she paid and otherwise lived up to the terms, she should have gone to court long ago.
My guess is that they didn’t convey the property because she didn’t pay as agreed. It is odd that there is no mention of the owner/builder trying to claim the property by paying off the back taxes on a timely basis. Chaumont Woman makes herself sound like a flake who tried to do a seat of the pants deal. Fool and money/house are soon parted.
“struck a deal with a village man”
Took the cheap route without a settlement attorney.
A fine option if you know what you’re doing.
She obviously didn’t.
Heyl put in a bid for $45,000 but has already been outbid.
= = =
After the property is sold, the taxes are paid, and the rest goes to the property owner, I thought.
So if she keeps bidding and wins, pays taxes, keeps the property, and gets the excess back???
But her new basis will be on the selling price maybe.
File a lis pendens against the former owner and also seek bankruptcy protection, if applicable. Both should at least delay the auction.
In some of the "better neighbor-hoods," $35,000.00 property taxes, and higher. And no, were not talking acreage, just typical lot sizes, some as big as a 1/2 acre. HINT: Not too many, that's for sure.
FYI, most houses (read that as 90 percent plus) heat with oil heat. Electric heat is out of the question (although their are a small amount, from the early - to mid 1960's.) Natural gas depending if it's already installed,{street & house} is the big second method of heat.
All of this begs more questions, about building to code, and permits, and inspections, and electric service , water, septic/sewer.
There is so much wrong with this story. His side, her side, truth, and reality.
“Don’t build nuthin on land you don’t own, cause you don’t own it. “
Like a group of kids building a tree house fort on a vacant lot, AND SOMEONE CUT DOWN THE TREE. Lesson learned by ten year olds.
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