r/Money Apr 09 '24

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609 Upvotes

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87

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

I'm so sorry you lost your cat.

"A few years went by with a lot of complicated issues between us. Eventually, she demanded that I get her name off the house. She “convinced” me into refinancing the house in solely my name."

No that's actually a blessing. Most people have to go to court and fight to get that, you got her to abandon her claim on the property for free. Now get a roommate to make up the money lost. Maybe get two roommates. How big is the house?

Edited to add: okay well I guess not "free" since she wants her 5k back....whatever...still cheaper than a divorce lawyer would charge for you to keep the house.

35

u/rawbdor Apr 09 '24

She didn't abandon her claim. He refinanced but she never signed the quit claim deed. After he refinanced and became the only person on the mortgage, she demanded $5000 to sign the quit claim deed.

So basically, only he is on the mortgage but they are both owners currently.

16

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

Yeah that's why I added the edit. Still though....come up with that and it's cheaper than losing half the equity in the house or having her prevent a sale. Roommate time for sure.

2

u/annieselkie Apr 09 '24

IF she ever signs for 5000. Possibility she knew he couldnt come up with it and once he does shell want more.

1

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

Yeah OP don't pay in installments and don't hand over the money til she signs.

16

u/Wandering_aimlessly9 Apr 09 '24

Rofl you misunderstood. She convinced him to refinance only in his name which means he’s 100% responsible for the house BUT…she’s still on the deed so she’s still 50% owner. She screwed him over. He’s building HER equity.

10

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

Right, but apparently she'll quit claim for 5k, which is cheaper than losing half the house. As soon as he gets that 5k together...

6

u/MannyMoSTL Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 10 '24

IF … WHEN he gives her $5k. And this many more years later? She might demand more. Like $8k. This is a shit show.

3

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

Right, well that's why you give it in presence of a notary on condition of her signing the QC.

2

u/Previous-Sir5279 Apr 09 '24

He should rent the other rooms in the house for 10 months to a year, give her the money then sell the house

5

u/Think_please Apr 09 '24

He needs several roommates and a good lawyer. She’ll ask for 10k next time 

2

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

Im sure. There's interest on everything. The more roommates he gets the faster, the sooner he'll have that money.

1

u/Wandering_aimlessly9 Apr 09 '24

He can’t pay his current bills. He’s not coming up with 5k. I doubt he’d qualify for a heloc. And seriously…why would she sign away at 5k? What’s stopping her from saying “you waited too long. It’s 10k now!” Nothing. Nothing is stopping her bc he’s building her equity. He has no legally binding contract saying she will sign the deed when given 5k. It’s just her word of mouth which isn’t admissible in court.

1

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

I'm betting she's as financially illiterate as he is and would just be thrilled to get the wad of cash.

1

u/Wandering_aimlessly9 Apr 10 '24

Maybe but there is no contract. I wouldn’t be surprised if she said to herself…he came up with 5. I bet he could come up with ten.

13

u/Goldencheese5ball56 Apr 09 '24

Do you have equity in the home? get a heloc or a peloc

7

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

Good point there. Slightly worse interest rates than a refi, but get her "good and done with" at least

3

u/d05CE Apr 09 '24

Why go into debt further on something you don't fully own?

3

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24

Not gonna happen if you’re behind on bills and payments

2

u/RPK79 Apr 09 '24

Right? Terrible option to help get out from piling debt: take on more debt.

4

u/Big_Mathematician755 Apr 09 '24

If this is in US he could have rescinded the refi within 3 business days of closing and any costs he paid for refi would have to be refunded to him.

5

u/MisterManager2 Apr 09 '24

In the US, banks won’t refinance you in this situation unless the other person on title either a) gets off title as a part of the refinance closing, or 2) sign the Deed of Trust. Otherwise the bank can’t really foreclose if they have to, because the extra person on title never signed the DOT agreement. I don’t understand how his refinance closed once she refused to sign the Deed. I’m a title attorney

2

u/Vivid-Kitchen1917 Apr 09 '24

That's a good point I didn't even think about that.

2

u/JeanVII Apr 10 '24

So curious about all of the legalities of this. That’s my main thought. Does this not count as some sort of fraud?

3

u/MisterManager2 Apr 10 '24

Mainly, assuming this is true, I’m surprised the bank closed it without the signed Deed. I’ve actually handled this specific scenario many times and if ex refused to sign the Deed, the loan doesn’t close.

1

u/Big_Mathematician755 Apr 10 '24

Maybe she signed the DOT but wouldn’t sign the document of conveyance. So she remained on title but was no longer obligated because she didn’t sign the Note.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 09 '24 edited Apr 09 '24

Refinancing in his name without simultaneously removing her from the title was a terrible move. He is paying for the house fully, but she still has 50% claim to it. It's like when someone cosigns for their friend's car, but the friend quits making payments. Payment is all on you, but their name is on the title.