What are my options?

[bridgem]

What is the name of your state? Tennessee

I am purchasing a home from a man here in Tennessee. We have only a signed agreement between the two of us, and I am making payments to him. He is currently in the middle of a divorce. His wife called me the other night and claims that he could not sell the home to me even though I am making my payments. She claims that as of May
31, no property was to be sold. I purchased in August. Now I'm afraid of losing my home and my money. He says not to worry, he will work things out with his attorney. What should I do to protect my interests? I don't want to lose my home or my money.

[Ohiogal]

If the home is marital property/marital asset then he had no right to sell the property to you. What type of sale was this that you are paying him directly?

[bridgem]

It's like a rent to own kind of thing. What should I do now?

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by bridgem

It's like a rent to own kind of thing. What should I do now?

You need to hire a lawyer to protect your interests.

Before, however, you go to the lawyers office, have a title report run on the place by a title insurance company who does business in the county where the place is located.

Show it to the lawyer.

[bridgem]

The wife also wants me to give her any copies of anything relating to the property. Including canceled checks and such. I don't want to hand out my financial info to just anyone. Can't she get that from her husband in court?

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by bridgem

The wife also wants me to give her any copies of anything relating to the property. Including canceled checks and such. I don't want to hand out my financial info to just anyone. Can't she get that from her husband in court?

Tell her to speak to your lawyer.

[nextwife]

Never, never, never put any money toward owning a property for which you have not FIRST recieved a current title report showing WHO has the right to sell, and what is against the property, including all matters that run with the land (such as easments, ROWs and deed restriction). Even in a Rent to Own or LC, it's rather naive to be paying on a place that you don't really know you can buy, and haven't created aand recorded an interest to prevent others from buying out from under you.

And I don't care oif yu're buying from MOM, it still applies! Because you can't know that even mom knows and understands all that is of record against her property.