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Maine Real Estate Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: We bought a camp from family. They insisted on having rights to use the property. It isn’t working snd we want to change

We bought the property above appraised value. It allowed his aunt snd uncle (the owners) her two kids and grandchild lifetime use. For up to two weeks. The cousin has basically moved in. If we sell the house to ourselves or a trust can we get them off the use agreement?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 13, 2021

Not exactly sure of your situation, but straw deeds are not going to extinguish life estates in the chain of title. Apparently you have the remainder after their life estates and/or you did not have a competent attorney to draft that deed. Hire one now to search the title and determine the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: I own 257 acres in Maine as Joint Tenants with another couple. We both have our own homes. Can I sell my half
Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Jul 9, 2021

Assuming the 257 acres are owned by all the joint tenants as one lot, no, you cannot sell your half of that property unless and until you divide the entire lot into two lots first, such that you alone own your "half." To do so, you would either need the consent of your other joint tenants... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: I own 257 acres in Maine as Joint Tenants with another couple. We both have our own homes. Can I sell my half
Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Jul 9, 2021

Assuming the 257 acres are owned by all the joint tenants as one lot, no, you cannot sell your half of that property unless and until you divide the entire lot into two lots first, such that you alone own your "half." To do so, you would either need the consent of your other joint tenants... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: House Sale dilemma

My mom is trying to sell her house located in maine. There is a buyer and a 3rd party that is going to get a finders fee of $50000 because house is under contract for $140000. When she signed the contract she was told the 3rd party was going to buy house for $90000 if a buyer wasnt found, but their... View More

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Jun 28, 2021

Generally speaking, the terms of the agreement will govern, and it is impossible for me to answer your question without reviewing the agreement. That said, if your mother is age 60 or older, she is an elder and elders have certain protections under state and federal law. You should consult with an... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: I own a camp on Little Sebago with my brother. He wants to sell, I don’t. We have offered him half of assessed value.

He Wants full current market value, which I can’t afford. What aren’t options.

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Jun 18, 2021

Ok, so you mean he wants you to buy out his interest at full current market value. Now I get it. You can make a counteroffer. You can point out if he has to file a partition action, those costs would be deducted from the sale proceeds. Also, if you both hired a real estate agent to sell the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: My brother wants to sell a lake property we own together. What are my rights?

I want to keep the property. He wants to get the highest sale price. I can't afford to go over a specific amount. He insists we sell to get highest market value. What are m rights?

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Jun 18, 2021

I am sorry, but I am confused by your question. What do you mean by "I can't afford to go over a specific amount"?

If the dispute boils down to he wants to sell the property, but you do not, as a co-owner, you can refuse to sign a listing agreement or a deed to a potential...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: This would be a question about Maine real estate contract law.

The seller has to withdraw from the sale of his home which is under contract. The seller was moving out of state to new job offering ,but the job offer was withdrawn. can the seller cancel the contract and remove his home from the market. buyers are trying to force the sale.

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Jun 10, 2021

The answer will depend on the terms of the contract. If the contract allows the seller to terminate it for these reasons, then the seller can do so. If not, the buyers have the right to enforce the terms of the contract, which may well mean they can seek to force the sale (pursuant to the remedy of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: In Maine, does majority rule on selling a property if 1 owner doesn't agree? There is nothing in the deed saying "yes"

We disagree on a contractor and selling and 1 of the other 3 owners has threatened to do what they want by majority rule. There is no reference made to "majority rule" in the deed. Can they just do what they want?

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Apr 26, 2021

The short answer is no. An owner must sign a deed transferring his or her interest in the property to the buyer for the transfer to be effective. A co-owner cannot transfer another owner's interest. If all owners cannot agree about what to do with the property, typically, these situations are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: A false lien was filed on property of our charity corporation. I need someone just request dismissal by the court.

A prospective buyer of our property hired an architect and did not pay him. The debt collector falsely claimed that we owe the architect and put a lien on the property. We cannot afford a lawyer and just need one to file a motion to dismiss the charity corporation from the suit against the... View More

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Apr 21, 2021

I do not have all the necessary facts to enable me to advise you about this situation, but if you are interested in exploring these issues further with me, I would be happy to communicate with you first to make sure our firm does not have a conflict of interest. Please feel free to contact me via... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: My husband has a mortgage on our house and his mother had to be a co borrower. She has since abandoned the house

She stopped paying her part of the mortgage and refuses to contact us or come get her belongings because “her names on the house it doesnt matter”. The property deed is ONLY in my husbands name so she has no ownership of the lands. Can we legally evict her and her belongings?

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Apr 7, 2021

As far as evicting her goes, bringing an eviction action (also known as a FED action) should only be necessary if she was either a tenant holding under a written lease or a tenant at will. It sounds like she voluntarily left the home and has no intention of returning.

As far as her...
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1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: My neighbor just cleared his land of all trees right up to my property line. Clear cut! Can he do that? No trees left!

His property was a forest and every tree is gone right up to my property line. Isn’t there a buffer of some sort? I thought it was 15 ft? I was surrounded by woods and now I see his yard and house with no trees at all.

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Apr 4, 2021

Check with your Town Office to see if there are any state or municipal land use regulations concerning clearing trees and other vegetation that might apply to your neighbor’s property. For example, there are regulations concerning clearing trees and other vegetation in the shoreland zone, which... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Maine on
Q: My dad passed away two years ago and my stepmom passed a year ago,my step brother has taken over the house ,

We know of nothing will wise and he has taken over everything do I have any right to the house,as of this year the house is still in my dad's name even at the town,his name hasn't been removed from the tax title and no other name is on it

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Feb 22, 2021

More facts are needed to answer this question, but assuming upon your dad’s death, title to the house passed to your stepmom and, upon your stepmom’s death, title to the house passed to your stepbrother, then you would need to have an enforceable agreement or right with respect to the house... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: We’re buying a Maine home with inlaw unit with our only child and his wife, no mortgage.

Both familes are sharing the cost of the property. Should we put it in JT with ROS to protect all parties, or just put it in the name of my son and his wife.

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Feb 3, 2021

The answer depends on a number of factors, including what the goals of the parties involved are. I would recommend you discuss your situation with a Maine attorney, who can provide you with guidance and advice once he or she has a better understanding of your circumstances and needs. My partner,... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: Can someone file a lawsuit regarding a property they don’t own?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Feb 3, 2021

Yes, it happens constantly. Boundary Line Disputes and Easement Suits necessarily involve others' land. The defendant in Ejectment Suits may dispute title. Many other causes of actions are filed dealing with land titled to someone else other than the plaintiff.

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Legal Malpractice for Maine on
Q: In 2008 /09 I did loan modification, they never told me I was doing a new loan adding 10 more years ....
Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Dec 27, 2020

Have you carefully reviewed all the paperwork you received and/or signed at closing and does that paperwork fail to disclose the additional 10 years? If it was properly disclosed, then you would likely not have a viable claim.

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Maine on
Q: My mother has been taking care of some rental property for a man who is now deceased. What can she do to take ownership?

She lives in Maine, has been paying the taxes on the property and isn't sure if the deceased man has any family.

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Nov 27, 2020

I am sorry, but I do not think your mother has any right to take ownership based on her paying the taxes on the property. If she is interested in finding out who owns the property now, then she should check the local registry of deeds records to see if the deceased man owned the property in only... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: Can someone who does not have right of way force you to remove a gate on your driveway. Their land is on other side.

Hello. We have just installed a gate on the road leading to our home. We own the land. Neighbors must use a portion of our road to reach their driveway which we gave ample room for with the install. Their right of way ends at their driveway. They were told about our gate install. The location was... View More

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Nov 27, 2020

I am sorry, but I am having a hard time picturing where everything is located based on your description. Also, you say “[t]heir right of way ends at their driveway.” But you also say they are demanding you “remove the post on their side.” You also ask if you are “legally forced to remove... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: My name is on the deed with my ex husband but i am not on the loan. i live in the house and can not refinance on my owm

am i a successor? house was given to me in our decree. what options do i have?

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Oct 21, 2020

It sounds like you will need to find a co-signer with good credit if you want to refinance. If the mortgage company will accept payments from you, then you can simply pay the mortgage each month and continue to live in the house. Failing that, you may need to consider selling the house to pay off... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: Can I buy land in Maine without a lawyer or anything of the sort.what do I legally need to do when buying land privately

I want to buy the land cash I have all the cash for the said land...I do not have a lawyer and neither does she..she just wants it gone and doesn’t wanna spend anymore money I’m not worried about any deed issues or anything as I said she’s a school teacher in town I live in I’m just... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 12, 2020

Your situation is exactly why you need an attorney. Hire a competent local attorney to conduct a title search, then prepare an enforceable Deed. There are title problems that cannot be cured, and you do not want to have one. The cost should be minimal.

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Maine on
Q: What is the required process for remotely buying a for-sale-by-owner home with cash in Maine?

We are out of state, and want to buy an inexpensive "as is" house in Maine. We want to complete the sale as simply as possible, and we do not intend to travel there for viewing or to sign documents. We're not asking for any contingencies (i.e. no inspection etc.), we just want to buy... View More

Fred Bopp III
Fred Bopp III
answered on Oct 2, 2020

Although a title company can likely handle everything with respect to closing the sale (but not with respect to preparing a purchase and sale agreement), you are probably well-advised to speak with a lawyer about your situation, especially given that you do not intend to travel to Maine for... View More

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