Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Michigan

Re: Invalid land contract

Where is the property? If its in Michigan, I can't help you as I am licensed in California. If the property, and the property management company is in California, I can assist you, but I would suggest that you post some additional details.

As a general rule, and again, this is in California only, the property manager is going to be a licensed real estate agent. That person has a much greater duty to you as their client than a non-licensed person might. As such, there is little question that you should be able to recover any and all expenses from the property manager.

With respect to the suit, if they have sued the property owner, the property owner can probably defend the lawsuit on the basis that he never authorized the contract, never received the money, and that the person who is liable is the property management company who defrauded the tenant. That being said, the property owner will still have to defend the lawsuit, will probably have to file a complaint against the property manager. I would suggest that a complaint be filed with the California Department of Real Estate regarding this transaction - desperate times are causing licensed persons to do stupid things, and they need to be punished, plus I believe there is a recovery fund at the State of California for activity by a licensed real estate agent which harms a consumer.

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