Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

You'd still be best off involving a title insurance company. You may need a property survey, and you want to be sure there are no liens or claims against the house.

A quit claim deed basically says: "I'm giving you whatever I have, if I even have it. I'm not promising that I do own it, or that it doesn't have title problems or any other problems."

You could be letting yourself in for liability, for example, if someone was injured on his property and there is a claim for the injury. It would become your problem. Are all of the property taxes paid? etc. etc.

You want all of that looked into, and you want more than a quit claim deed; you want one that contains promises by the neighbor that he actually owns it and that he hasn't done anything or permitted anything to happen that would result in anyone else having a claim to or interest in the property.

THIS RESPONSE IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, SINCE I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED, AND I DO NOT HAVE A REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT WITH YOU.

* If the answers to your question confirm that you have a valid issue or worthwhile claim, your next step should almost always be to establish a dialog with a lawyer who can provide specific advice to you. Contact a lawyer in your county or township.

* Another reason for contacting a lawyer is that it is often impossible to give a good answer in the Internet Q&A format without having more information. The unique circumstances of your situation and things that you may not have thought to mention in your question may completely change the answer. If you want to be sure that you have a complete answer to your question and an understanding of what that answer means, establish a connection with a lawyer who practices in the area of your concern.