Man uses obscure law to claim ownership of $300k home in upscale Texas town... for just $16

Daily Mail ^ | 7/20/11 | Wil Longbottom

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

This is in Flower Mound, Texas

[cripplecreek]

Send him the tax bill.

[JRios1968]

I don’t see the down side...good on him for being well-informed.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Mr Robinson used the obscure law ‘adverse possession’,....”

Adverse possession ... AKA “squatters’ rights”.

[Jeff Chandler]

The law’s the law.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Wish I had known about this deal!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Yep

[CJ Wolf]

“Leigh Lowrie, who lives nearby, said: ‘What paperwork is it and how is it legally binding if he doesn’t legally own the house? He just squats there.”

They are just pissed they didn’t think of it first.

[PeteB570]

The law is the law but if I was the county I would sure send him the tax bill.

[ShadowAce]

He’ll pay property taxes going forward. He doesn’t owe back taxes on this property.

[truthkeeper]

It's been years since I studied this but I seem to recall the elements were open and notorious possession AND paying the tax bill.

Lawyers?

[OCCASparky]

While property taxes in Texas might be on the high side (although nowhere near as high as, say, NH or NJ) if that’s all I had to do to own a house, send away. I’d rather pay $10K than $300K.

[thackney]

its owner walked away. Then, the mortgage company went bust.

I doubt it is the only house in this situation.

[2ndDivisionVet]

There are thousands of homes in the same situation, right now, in Dallas/Ft Worth, I’m sure.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/search/rea?query=foreclosure&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=&bedrooms=

[rockvillem]

Send him the tax bill.

Exactly - I have no idea if that's an element of adverse possession in Texas, but it's often an element of an adverse possession claim.

The article seems full of WTF in any event. "Obscure law"? Adverse possession is taught in Property 101.

[AnAmericanAbroad]

Smart guy; way to go!

I have no problem with this whatsoever, and good for him. I wish we had something similar in Germany, but what the heck; for that, I’m willing to settle in Texas.

[Red Badger]

[hsrazorback1]

Adverse possession laws vary by state.

In Arkansas, a claim for adverse possession can only take place after you’ve resided on and maintained the property for seven years. Full documentation of residence and maintenance is also required.

[Bidimus1]

Now the question .. how did he get in ?

If door was locked.. would that not be breaking and entering.. surely the law can not reward a criminal act.

He will in the long run loose, some one some where has clear title and ownership.

[ctdonath2]

Read the law.
There is much you can do.
Very few do read the law. Those who do can do well.