Frivolous lawsuits?

[Kevin]

Just a hypothetical:

My neighbors are moving! Not hypothetically, thank god they are actually moving. I’ve posted about them before. This isn’t about that.

But we looked up to see what they are selling their house for. I think it’s less than what they could sell it for. Another house sold earlier this summer for considerably more, and another is for sale right now for a whole lot more.

All the houses are very similar.

Now because he is directly beside us, for a comparable, our house - in theory - won’t be worth as much. Correct?

I would say they are selling it on the cheap to sell fast and move quickly. But who knows, we don’t speak to each other.

Could I sue the neighbor because of this?

Frivolous?

What about the guy bringing a class action law suit against Taco Bell for skimping on ingredients? That’s an actual lawsuit.

 

[Chief 101]

The value of houses around here is down because interest rates are up...maybe you can sue joe because bidenomics has cost you a lot!

 

[Dave P.]

You've got to be #$%^ kidding..."Hi I'm suing you because you're selling your house too cheap".
On the other hand anybody can try to sue anybody for almost anything, so there is that I suppose.
Maybe the inside is trashed....some people are pigs.
If it's super cheap try to buy it even cheaper and flip it.

 

[hittman]

wonder what it appraised for

 

[mishtub]

I've heard lawyers say "You can sue a ham sandwich but it would be difficult to collect anything!"

 

[Threespears]

If You bought it then You could decide on who your next neighbor’s will be

 

[dannyd]

Because you don't speak, they may have problems with their house you don't about, or maybe a "As Is" cash only sale.

 

[turd]

IMHO it won't affect the value of your house. Appraisals are done on a comparable basis, not who your neighbor is. If they sell for less than they could get, that's on them. As has been said, you don't know the condition or the issue for selling it. Maybe part of it isn't finished, or there are issues with plumbing, appliances or such. Just be happy they are leaving and HOPE you get someone better. The folks next to us sold their house for more than we thought it was worth and we got neighbors that don't speak to us, or anyone else in the neighborhood. We wish the old ones were back.

 

[Dave P.]

I and we got neighbors that don't speak to us, or anyone else in the neighborhood.

In some cases that's not all bad.

 

[Kevin]

I’m not actually going to sue them, it was just a question of being curious. And true, I don’t know the condition of their house. However, we are VERY happy they are moving.

It would make a funny lawsuit though. But I feel like I’ve already won by having them move.

 

[caryc]

That kind of attitude is what's wrong with our legal system now. Can I sue?

 

[Ranger]

Seriously, if you can afford it and you think the house is underpriced, you should do your due diligence on it, purchase it, and then flip it if you can.
We had some bad neighbors who decided to sell. They wouldnt have sold to us so we had a broker buy it from them for us.

 

[BearBiologist]

Frivolous??? Yes!!!!!

 

[Kevin]

Cary, you aren’t wrong. There are more lawyers here in the US than we need. People do sue over the dumbest things.

This house is not cheap enough that I could afford it. It will sell quickly though, it’s a good price and in decent shape.

 

[Ranger]

It might be worthwhile to get your new neighbors a house warming gift and welcome them to the neighborhood to get everything off to a good stsrt.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

He is probably selling cheap because he is tired of putting up with his a&& hole neighbor. Wants to leave as fast as he can His neighbor never even invited them over for Sunday chicken dinner

 

[Watertender]

It might be worthwhile to get your new neighbors a house warming gift and welcome them to the neighborhood to get everything off to a good stsrt.

In some neighborhoods that could be a Molotov cocktail!

 

[blume357]

I would be more worried about who is going to buy the 'cheap' house than what it is selling for. But then there is very little you can do about that other than to keep your place looking as nice as possible at least while next door is up for sale. I was going to have that burden a month ago.... our neighbors across the street put their house up for sale. But then they sold it the first day.... were made an offer of a hundred grand above what they were asking.... this is Greenville, S.C. seems most of the country wants to come here for some insane reason...

 

[Watertender]

I would be more worried about who is going to buy the 'cheap' house than what it is selling for. But then there is very little you can do about that other than to keep your place looking as nice as possible at least while next door is up for sale. I was going to have that burden a month ago.... our neighbors across the street put their house up for sale. But then they sold it the first day.... were made an offer of a hundred grand above what they were asking.... this is Greenville, S.C. seems most of the country wants to come here for some insane reason...

Just because a house goes for 100K above the asking price does not mean that you are getting a decent neighbor. The house directly across from mine was bought in cash by someone who lives lawsuit to lawsuit. The array of medical devices that are used as props for the acts in court is amazing. We also get treated to constant fights between the string of casual suitors who bed hop in and out of the place.

 

[ronto]

You can sue anyone for anything but you also can sell anything you own for any price you want. He could sell his house for $1 if he wants to. Your neighbor would then counter-sue you for his legal costs, his emotional distress, harassment, and what ever his attorney can dream up. A good attorney would tell you your are wasting your time over the lawsuit you are contemplating.

 

[Huskerguy72]

Last I checked, this was still a free country. He is FREE to sell his house for whatever he wants, he can give it away if he wants to. It is HIS house after all.

Since you don't get along I assume you don't know how nicely appointed the house is on the inside as well. Consider this, perhaps he wants to sell for whatever price to just get out of the neighborhood or he is having health issues, family concerns or a job change. None of it is your business as to why.

Look at the good side, around here, that lower price would cause my homes taxes to decrease.

 

[larry8]

Just remember that the closing costs if you buy it to flip it are double. once when you buy the house and again when you sell it. The average closing cost is around $8000, and you will be out the $16000 at time of sale.

 

[Kevin]

He is probably selling cheap because he is tired of putting up with his a&& hole neighbor. Wants to leave as fast as he can His neighbor never even invited them over for Sunday chicken dinner

This is probably more true than you know! That’s hilarious, as the first thing I read this morning it made my day.

It might be worthwhile to get your new neighbors a house warming gift and welcome them to the neighborhood to get everything off to a good stsrt.

Yep! We do this. When we moved here our good neighbor brought us some Texas made Blue Bell Ice Cream.

We in fact did that to these people when they first moved here. And will do it for the new people also.

I know it’s not a chicken dinner, but it does help some.

The neighbors behind us remodeled his garage and it went on for a while, pretty noisy too. He actually brought my wife flowers to apologize for the noise. That went a long ways.

So we do get along with most of the people around us. I’m not a total jerk. usually.

 

[caryc]

This is probably more true than you know! That’s hilarious, as the first thing I read this morning it made my day.



Yep! We do this. When we moved here our good neighbor brought us some Texas made Blue Bell Ice Cream.

We in fact did that to these people when they first moved here. And will do it for the new people also.

I know it’s not a chicken dinner, but it does help some.

The neighbors behind us remodeled his garage and it went on for a while, pretty noisy too. He actually brought my wife flowers to apologize for the noise. That went a long ways.

So we do get along with most of the people around us. I’m not a total jerk. usually.

Just occasionally?

 

[Paladin]

Perhaps you can turn their low sale price into a positive like I did. When a neighbor's house, which is very similar to mine, sold below the market value just after the house crisis, I used that house as a comparable to file an appeal with the county tax assessor's office for a reduction in the assessed value of my house. They accepted my appeal and dropped the assessed value of my house and therefore my property taxes by quite a bit. There may be a silver lining to your cloud of despair.

 

[mirglip]

Suing "for damages" may be legitimate in many instances, but suing "for damages" to the marketplace is not.

70 years ago, there was shame attached to being a victim, but the courts and other social engineers have changed all that. Now it seems everyone is seeking out "victim status" as though it were a high station in life.

 

[dweis]

Real estate appraisers estimated value based upon an average of sales values of similar houses in a given area. They do not rate your house value but a single property. you cannot sue because you have incurred no damages and because each owner has the right to set the price of his or her property or for that matter to give it away.



.

 

[Kevin]

Perhaps you can turn their low sale price into a positive like I did. When a neighbor's house, which is very similar to mine, sold below the market value just after the house crisis, I used that house as a comparable to file an appeal with the county tax assessor's office for a reduction in the assessed value of my house. They accepted my appeal and dropped the assessed value of my house and therefore my property taxes by quite a bit. There may be a silver lining to your cloud of despair.

I had not even considered the tax assessor angle.

Thanks!

 

[caryc]

Real estate appraisers estimated value based upon an average of sales values of similar houses in a given area. They do not rate your house value but a single property. you cannot sue because you have incurred no damages and because each owner has the right to set the price of his or her property or for that matter to give it away.



.

That's true. The purpose of a lawsuit is to recover from actual damages you received from the defendant. You have no damages, you have no lawsuit.

 

[txramfan]

I had not even considered the tax assessor angle.

Thanks!

Property sales price isn't public information in Texas.

Its one reason a taxing district in Texas ( Dallas Morning News had the specific info earlier this year ) sent letters to new home buyers, brand new homes, asking the purchase price. On official letterhead .