Man uses obscure law to claim ownership of $300k home in upscale Texas town... for just $16 - Polidicks

[url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016745/Man-uses-obscure-law-claim-ownership-300k-home-upscale-Texas-town--just-16.html?ITO=1490[/url] [QUOTE]If someone you knew claimed to have bought a new house for $16, you'd probably expect it to be a rundown hovel. But for Kenneth Robinson, that princely sum could see him as the new owner of a $300,000 home in an well-manicured part of Flower Mound, Texas. On June 17, Mr Robinson took advantage of a little known Texas law to move into the abandoned home. The house had been in foreclosure for more than a year and its owner walked away. Then, the mortgage company went bust. After months of research, Mr Robinson used the obscure law 'adverse possession', filled out some paperwork costing just $16, and moved some of his belongings into the home. Under the law, if someone moves into an abandoned home they have exclusive negotiating rights with the original owner. If the owner wants them to leave, they have to pay off the mortgage debt on the home and the bank has to file a complicated lawsuit to get them evicted. Mr Robinson believes that because of the cost required to move him out, he will be able to stay in the house. Under occupancy laws, if he remains there for three years he can ask the court for the title. He told WFAA.com: 'I want to be owner of record. At this point, because I possess it, I am the owner. 'This is not a normal process, but it is not a process that is not known. It's just not known to everybody.' Mr Robinson printed out an online form at the Denton County courthouse which states that he is claiming ownership of the abandoned property. The house has just a few pieces of furniture inside and has no running water or electricity. Mr Robinson has put 'no trespassing' signs outside the house after neighbours called police to arrest him for breaking in. But he claimed to have found a key and said he gained access to the property legally. [IMG]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/07/20/article-2016745-0D16AAD400000578-655_472x331.jpg[/IMG] Mr Robinson did months of research on 'adverse possession', filled out the forms and legally the house is now his home Police have said they can't remove him from the property because home ownership is a civil matter. But neighbours have accused him of being nothing more than a squatter. Leigh Lowrie, who lives nearby, said: 'What paperwork is it and how is it legally binding if he doesn't legally own the house? He just squats there. 'If he wants the house, buy the house like everyone else had to. Get the money, buy the house.' [/QUOTE]

That's awesome.

Achievement unlocked

Well at least he moved into a house without someone living in it already, like those squatters from the UK in that thread a while back

lol @ the pissed off neighbors. They're probably real stuck up and don't want "poor" people living next to them.

If he isn't living in it or even doing anything with it, what are his plans?

[QUOTE=plappy03;31228459]lol @ the pissed off neighbors. They're probably real stuck up and don't want "poor" people living next to them.[/QUOTE] What part of your brain makes this seem like a good post? I'm honestly curious about the psychology. No where in the article does it say the man is poor, but you immediately do what much of facepunch does and jump on the "rich people are bad" bandwagon.

[QUOTE=melonmonkey;31228527]What part of your brain makes this seem like a good post? I'm honestly curious about the psychology. No where in the article does it say the man is poor, but you immediately do what much of facepunch does and jump on the "rich people are bad" bandwagon.[/QUOTE] Well, the neighbors had essentially been calling the man a squatter.

[QUOTE=NikoChekhov;31228581]Well, the neighbors had essentially been calling the man a squatter.[/QUOTE] Because in most situations living in a house you do not own is considered squatting. He does not own the house, he is legally occupying it.

[QUOTE=melonmonkey;31228592]Because in most situations living in a house you do not own is considered squatting. He does not own the house, he is legally occupying it.[/QUOTE] People in the military are squatters by that logic. :v:

[QUOTE=Nikota;31228622]People in the military are squatters by that logic. :v:[/QUOTE] Ok, my apologies. I will extrapolate In most situations, living in a house you do not own when the owner has not provided permission or warrant to live in, rest in, or otherwise occupy the home is considered squatting. Happy?

Awesome

[QUOTE=melonmonkey;31228659]Ok, my apologies. I will extrapolate In most situations, living in a house you do not own when the owner has not provided permission or warrant to live in, rest in, or otherwise occupy the home is considered squatting. Happy?[/QUOTE] A little. The guys house got foreclosed on so he really couldnt have done anything about it.

[QUOTE=Nikota;31228694]A little. The guys house got foreclosed on so he really couldnt have done anything about it.[/QUOTE] That's nice, but not relevant to what I was saying.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;31228493]If he isn't living in it or even doing anything with it, what are his plans?[/QUOTE] After 3 years time get full owner ship of the house. Then probably to sell it.

[QUOTE=plappy03;31228459]lol @ the pissed off neighbors. They're probably real stuck up and don't want "poor" people living next to them.[/QUOTE] Or maybe because he is black ?

Sell it in 3 years and get a small house.

The neighbors are just mad that they didn't think of it first.

Not as cool as the guy who got a house with a [url=http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/]red paperclip[/url].

[QUOTE=General Omega;31230780]Not as cool as the guy who got a house with a [url=http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/]red paperclip[/url].[/QUOTE] Paperclip > Fish Pen > Doornob > Small Grill > Small Generator > Keg Set > Jetski > Trip to Yahk > Box Truck > Recording Contract > Year in Pheonix > Afternoon with Alice Cooper > KISS Snowglobe > Move Role > "503 Main Steet, Kipling, Canada". God damn, that's pretty amazing. Props to him.

Fucking genius.

[QUOTE=General Omega;31230780]Not as cool as the guy who got a house with a [url=http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/]red paperclip[/url].[/QUOTE] How long did it take to go from paperclip to a house? Must've taken ages. Disregarding that: mad, mad, MAD props to this guy.

holy shit, he wins an internet for genius

It's in Texas though. I'd ask for my money back.

I'd sell the house and get another one somewhere else. Or Sell the house, get a nice loft, and buy a DB9 or something.

God damn squatters.

in the UK squatting is just a hobby

he bought the house for less than a four person meal at mcdonalds this guy is a genius

According to what I read over at The Consumerist, the people in that neighborhood are all about keeping up with the Joneses. One poster even said that after his parents got divorced, his family was treated like shit, down to people leaving them hateful letters and tearing up the lawn.

I actually live near Flower Mound, though I've not heard of this happening. Looking through news feeds I'm only getting broader websites and no local DFW stations. That being said it probably did happen, though I wonder how other things might be handled for him like utilities taxes and property taxes. That being said I do like seeing this just to troll them. Suburbs around here like Flower Mound are very pretentious and judgmental about their neighbors, and this is magnified when you get to the "well-off" part of the suburbs (though there are worse, see Highland Park). I think the fact of their neighbor being black probably isn't helping much either.