Legal Question in Real Estate Law in North Carolina

Land title dispute
We purchased 2 roughly equal side-by-side pieces of undeveloped land in Western North Carolina for $25,000. Shortly after we began building on the land, a neighbor in the region called us saying that he owned one of the pieces of land. He bought the piece in question with 2 other pieces in the area. Both parties paid cash; both parties have title insurance. Our respective title insurance companies have said they can't determine who actually has better claim to the land, although we paid taxes on the land this year and our 2 plots are bound under the same tax ID in county records. We want the land so we can build, the other party wants the money as he bought it as an investment. Problem is, his title company offered him $5000 for the land, which he refused. It does seem to be clearly below the value of the land. So now we are stuck - we can't continue building unless he signs a quit-claim deed, which he won't do for $5k. What options do we have? Can we force the title companies to pay more? What is the use of owner's title insurance they won't pay a fair price, anyway? Can we go back to the attorney who did the original search and closing? We feel so wronged.

Asked on 9/27/06, 8:31 am

David Slater David P. Slater, Esq.

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Re: Land title dispute

Your claim is against your title company. Good luck.

Answered on 9/27/06, 8:36 am

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