Q: Can they legally force me to sell the couches back?

A: No. They cannot. Pay the last $100 you owe them and cease further gommunication.

A: Based on the information provided, you cannot be legally compelled to sell back the couches you purchased. Once a sale transaction is completed or substantially completed (as yours is with only $100 remaining), ownership rights transfer fully to the buyer, regardless of whether the agreement was verbal or written. The law recognizes your right to retain personal property you've legitimately purchased, and no seller can force a buyback without your consent or without specific contractual provisions established at the time of sale.

Your receipts documenting the payments provide strong evidence of the original agreement and your substantial fulfillment of its terms. Without any buyback clause or condition in your original agreement, their threats of legal action have no legitimate foundation in contract law. Courts consistently uphold that parties cannot unilaterally modify executed sales agreements or impose new terms after the fact, particularly when the original transaction is nearly complete.

We recommend maintaining documentation of all payments made and any communications regarding the original purchase terms. Should they pursue legal action despite lacking grounds to do so, you would have strong defensive position. You might consider writing a clear, factual letter documenting the original agreement, your near-completion of payment obligations, and your decision to retain ownership of the property. While maintaining cordial relations with family friends is often desirable, this remains fundamentally a legal matter of property rights that strongly favors your position as the purchaser.