I'm the seller in a rent-to-own contract

I'm the seller in a rent-to-own contract

Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 2 votes

Hi all, i'm the seller in a rent-to-own contract I entered into with a friend who was getting into the real estate business 2021. He wanted to be the property manager and manage the house until it could be sold again in 7 years for a (presumably) higher price. The deal seemed legit and it was my trustworthy friend, so i agreed to it. He told me he would take care of everything and not to worry.

I signed a "Subject To" Mortgage (it was presented to me as a Wrap - so problem #1). Consequently, my friend as the property manager, found a tenant that was a serial evictee (problem #2) - and apparently did not do a background check when she moved in summer 2022 (because when i looked up her name recently, i found the recent eviction 12/21 in less than one minute).

My friend collected the rent for a few months and looked like everything was going well.

Then he had to have a major operation unexpectedly this year, during which time, the tenant took advantage, stopped paying, and eventually filed for bankruptcy protection. Because the mortgage is still in my name, i had to pay the mortgage for 6 months straight until the tenant could be evicted again or it would hit my credit report. I am still paying the mortgage!! This is on top of what I'm paying my current rent.

I also invested almost 10k into his company from a Roth IRA which he told me would go towards other properties, but instead he used it on My property. (I just found out today.) He told me today that it was his mistake that he didn't tell me but that i couldn't move back into the house because of that deal, something to do with the IRS....

This just happened, i have to get the original paperwork, and see the original contract and if there is a Rescind clause that may get me out of this deal! I let him know i want out and that he broke contract by not paying. If I didn’t pay the mortgage, it would have been in foreclosure by now. Last night i saw an ad he placed listing the property again without telling me!

My friend has been laid up and recovering and wants to continue and find someone else for the house, but I want out of this deal, and want to move back into the house for my primary residence.

This is all extremely recent, and I'm starting to work with an attorney.

Am I out of options with that Subject to Contract? Do I have ANY recourse? 

If anyone has suggestions or useful comments, i would appreciate as i continue this journey to get my house back.  Thank you!

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Nicholas L.Pro Member
Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
2y

You need an attorney for this one

Good luck

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Nicholas L.Pro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    2y

    You need an attorney for this one

    Good luck

  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    2y

    @Suzanne Reed

    As mentioned you need an attorney.

    Sorry you have to go through this and hopefully other people on BP can see this and take caution that it’s not all rainbows and unicorns when it comes to “creative financing”

    Let me guess did your “friend” put any money down on this deal or have any skin on the game ?

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  • Michael SmytheBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Metro Detroit · Member since 2023 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    2y

    You will need a VERY good real estate contract attorney!

    Do NOT hire a jack-of-all-trades attorney as they will learn as they go at your cost.

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  • Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Nicholas L.:

    You need an attorney for this one

    Good luck


     Thank you.

  • Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Account Closed:
    Quote from @Suzanne Reed:

    Hi all, i'm the seller in a rent-to-own contract I entered into with a friend who was getting into the real estate business 2021. 

    Okay, I'm not gonna beat you up because you made a bunch of bad decisions. ;-)

    Here's the thing, I'd need to know the state the property is in, for a lot of the detail, but with a Subject To, you gave up the right to foreclose or evict. A Wrap gives you the right to foreclose and evict. Obviously read the agreement you signed and see what you signed.

    I'm not convinced you will ever regain ownership or collect from the deadbeats.

    Your “friend” obviously isn't telling you the whole situation, so I would involve an attorney in the discussion right away. Buy an hour of a real estate attorney’s time to help you sort it out. I'm not convinced that making mortgage payments is going to help your situation.

    The only recourse you have, IMHO, is to get the "friend" to sign a Warranty Deed back to you so that you own the property again. But first, get a Title report to see how much damage the IRS is. Then it makes sense to make the payments. But, if it's a disaster, you may want to just let it go. 

    If he is told about the legal issues he faces otherwise, he might be smart enough to do that. Then you have a chance to preserve your credit, but you have a deadbeat tenant in bankruptcy occupying the property. They are required to make rent payments on time after filling or they can be evicted. Your attorney can advise you.

    By the way you use "Rent To Own", "Subject To"," Wrap" they are all very different creative finance methods. Until you know which one it is, it's all guess work.


     Ken, thank you - as can imagine, i've beaten myself up about it a lot already. So much for doing business with friends. It always seems reasonable at first!   The tenants have actually vacated the property, but he already has advertised to put someone else in there.  Thanks for your advice, much appreciated!

  • Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Chris Seveney:

    @Suzanne Reed

    As mentioned you need an attorney.

    Sorry you have to go through this and hopefully other people on BP can see this and take caution that it’s not all rainbows and unicorns when it comes to “creative financing”

    Let me guess did your “friend” put any money down on this deal or have any skin on the game ?


     Hi Chris, he paid closing costs for the title switch and also put money in the house for renovations... thanks.  I'll keep you all posted here, hopefully everyone can learn from this too.

  • Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Michael Smythe:

    You will need a VERY good real estate contract attorney!

    Do NOT hire a jack-of-all-trades attorney as they will learn as they go at your cost.


     Thanks Michael!

  • Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    I'm praying this isn't real.

  • Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    A contract you entered into with your friend. YOU LOST ME.

  • Investor · western NC · Member since 2017 · 14 posts · 3 votes
    2y

    just a thought but maybe ask someone in your mortgage company ? i ve always felt subto could be tricky is the bank knows there asset changed owners with them holding a lean?? i believe they have a right to ask for full payoff if from the buyer if they knew. just a thought to pitch to your lawyer.  

  • Rental Property Investor · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    To be quite clear I see this person as more of a predator than friend and I am highly skeptical that this was an accident.  You are never going to see the money that you are out but I'd offer my friend a clean break where you are both going to benefit.  You will forgive the past due payments however the house has to be signed back over to you where you can move back in and have this behind you.  You aren't going to see the money anyway and this may be the incentive they need.  Submit an offer of this in writing with an end date of next Wednesday and be extremely clear that failure to do so is going to result in a lawsuit filed that afternoon for both past due funds and also for the misappropriation of funds to his company.  

     A more nuclear option is this is one of the few situations where I'm not opposed to you drilling out the locks, moving in, and squatting.  you are paying the mortgage anyway so you may as well benefit.  

  • Dan H.Pro Member
    Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    2y

    Mistakes were made.  Learn from them. Make no additional mistakes.

    Use an attorney that specializes in RE.  The best you can obtain.

    Maybe the attorney can leverage the fact that your “friend” defrauded you of $10k and spent it differently than the agreement. 

    Consult with attorney first, but possibly you can get the mortgage holder to use the due on sale clause.  I suspect there is little chance your ‘friend” will be able to get financing to pay a due on sale clause. 

    Most important, listen to your rockstar RE attorney.

    Good luck

  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    2y

    This friend needs to be convinced to sign all rights back to you as soon as possible. 

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