Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Purchase deposit

I put down a $8750 deposit on a purchase for a property. However the bank did not approve the purchase, but the seller (who is an attorney) is refusing to release the deposit without giving him half. I would like to know what recourse I have, other than a lawsuit, against him? Can I file lien on the property, file complaint with the Real Estate Board, State Bar? Is he allowed to sell the property with this deposit still in escrow? Basically, he told me that it would cost me about half of the deposit to file a suit against him, so I should just give him the half to speed up things. I just recently found out that I am not the first he's done this to.

Thank you very much,


Asked on 9/23/99, 1:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Re: Purchase deposit

Was there any agreement signed? If so is he permitted to retain a portion of the deposit...I doubt it. Since he's an attorney, assuming you are a typical consumer, he should be held to a higher ethical and legal standard.

If you are being accurate, report the bastard to the Pennsylvania Bar Association @ 800-932-0311 or 717-238-6715. Try to find out more hard information regarding the prior acts you mentioned. Unless you aren't telling us somthing, this guy shouldn't be practicing law. It's the schmuck's in the profession that make us all look like scum.

Let us know what happens.

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Answered on 9/23/99, 11:57 pm


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