Buying a House/Who Owns it?

[deerhunter1968]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?Mississippi
I am buying a house w/some land and went to look at the land and the
lady who is living in the house stated that she owns the house and land.
She said that since her mother built it and she's lived there 30 years that
she has possession of the house so she automatically owns it, even though she doesn't have the deed. The people we are buying it from has the Deed.....Who owns it??? She also stated she has squatters rights...??
HELP...Do I need to get a lawyer just to buy this house?

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by deerhunter1968

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?Mississippi
I am buying a house w/some land and went to look at the land and the
lady who is living in the house stated that she owns the house and land.
She said that since her mother built it and she's lived there 30 years that
she has possession of the house so she automatically owns it, even though she doesn't have the deed. The people we are buying it from has the Deed.....Who owns it??? She also stated she has squatters rights...??
HELP...Do I need to get a lawyer just to buy this house?

**A: the Seller has the deed and the lady is merely a tenant. What is the story here and how did the Seller get the deed? At a tax or BK auction or foreclosure sale?

[deerhunter1968]

Originally Posted by HomeGuru

**A: the Seller has the deed and the lady is merely a tenant. What is the story here and how did the Seller get the deed? At a tax or BK auction or foreclosure sale?

The seller bought it from someone who bought it from the tenents brother, who owned the land at the time. The tenent had no say in the sell. The land was left to her brother. Some other land was left to her. She still owns her land at another place. Her brother sold his land. The man that bought his land sold it to our seller. She is stating that since she has lived there 20 years and they haven't charged her rent, that she owns the land. She hasn't paid the taxes on it the seller has for 7 years. She thinks she has "adverse possession", I think is what she said. -

[JETX]

Originally Posted by deerhunter1968

The seller bought it from someone who bought it from the tenents brother, who owned the land at the time. The tenent had no say in the sell. The land was left to her brother. Some other land was left to her. She still owns her land at another place. Her brother sold his land. The man that bought his land sold it to our seller. She is stating that since she has lived there 20 years and they haven't charged her rent, that she owns the land. She hasn't paid the taxes on it the seller has for 7 years. She thinks she has "adverse possession", I think is what she said. -

You need to have the seller clear up this title issue BEFORE you purchase the property. If not, you will spend thousands in court costs.... and may never actually take possession.
Get an attorney or tell the seller to fix HIS problem first.

[nextwife]

What you do is order title insurance. The title report will tell you who the owner is and what is needed to legally convey title. They, the title company, will set out their "requirements" to INSURE that title transfers legally to you. Do not even consider proceeding to closing without title insurance AND fulfilling all title requirements.

And, as JETX stated, use an attorney.

I agree with the other posters and just want to add: get a survey too BEFORE you buy.

[HomeGuru]

and inspections**************..and you do need a lawyer.