Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

i lived in home for 7 years paid partial rent housing paid most of it. my mom had me cash my $7000 cd toward down payment to purchase home my grandmother put in &4000;her husband put in $3000. i also put in another $3000 to fix it up before i moved in.the house was appraised for $20,000 more than we paid at the time.The ageement was for me to pay $100 to $140 per month to cover taxes.The house was mine,so i was told why else would i move there and put my money up.i had major personal problems with my moms husband and he kept appraising my house it . i was not told the value and he would deny it. I wanted to move told them i woant to sell ant would give him and my grandmother $10,000 each.we had an agreement the house belonged to me housing wouls even help me purchase home didnt have the income so he evicted me and sold my house for $90,000 more than we bought it for gave me not a dime. he was suppose to live there the first year to get the mortgage do i have any legal rights all i have is reciept for cd law suite i got that year also for the $3000


Asked on 10/08/11, 12:09 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Vaughn-Martel Charles River Law Partners, LLC

It would be truly tragic if you were only now reaching out to an attorney for the first time.

To start, I always recommend that clients who are purchasing real estate with a co-owner have a property ownership agreement. The agreement should clearly state each parties' contributions toward the property and provide rules for selling a share of ownership. You mention that you had an agreement - was it in writing?

Secondly, you indicate that the house was yours. When purchased, was the house transferred into your name alone? Was your name on the deed? If it was, you cannot be evicted like a tenant. Similarly, the house cannot be sold without your permission, except by a court's order of partition by sale.

It may be too late for an attorney to help you, but you really should speak with one right away if you hope to salvage any of your initial investment.

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Answered on 10/08/11, 5:11 am


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