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Jul 22, 2009 11:03 pm US/Central
New Homeowner Shocked To Learn Garage Isn't His
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Months after he purchased his home in northeast Minneapolis, Pedro Tapia found out the garage is not his. (File)
CBS
When you see a home listed for sale, you likely assume the pictures you see represent what you will get. One new homeowner was shocked to find that isn't always the case.
Months after he purchased his home in northeast Minneapolis, Pedro Tapia found out the garage is not his.
Tapia emigrated from Ecuador to Minnesota eight years ago. Last January, he presumed he was buying into the American dream when he purchased a foreclosed home for $45,000.
The MLS listing for the property on Broadway Street Northeast included both a description and a photograph of the garage.
Five months later, Tapia received a letter saying the garage he presumed he owned was going to be sold at a county auction.
"I was in shock. ... When I saw the letter from Hennepin County, I couldn't believe it," he exclaimed. "I am pretty upset. When I bought the house, I was told I was buying the garage."
The letter left Tapia wondering how this could've happened. WCCO-TV dug up a few facts.
First, the home and the garage actually have two separate legal addresses, which Tapia was not aware of. The home is located at 611 Broadway Street Northeast, whereas the garage is located at 1104 1/2 Washington Street Northeast. That said, numbers reading 611 are posted on the garage.
Second, the previous owner failed to pay property taxes on the garage from 2006 on, so the county began the process of seizing the garage through a process called tax forfeiture.
When Tapia was eyeing the house on MLS, the garage was already government property.
Tapia's Realtor admitted to WCCO-TV that she didn't catch the discrepancy at the closing.
Coldwell Banker, the agency that listed the home with the garage on MLS, issued a written statement, saying "This is an unfortunate situation where the description of a property being sold 'as-is' was not communicated correctly from seller to buyer. Coldwell Banker Burnet is still gathering facts and is promoting discussions between the parties."
So who owns the garage? As it turns out, a neighbor who owns a house just around the corner put a bid in at the county auction.
He told Tapia he was going to bid up to $50,000 for it. Intimidated, Tapia didn't put in a bid of his own.
The neighbor who bought the garage is currently letting Tapia rent it for a dollar per month. The neighbor did not return WCCO-TV's calls.
Even though he can park his car there for next to nothing, Tapia worries about how much resale value his property has now lost.
"It's my first time buying a house," he said. "I don't have too much experience."
To keep this from happening to you, make sure the legal description of the property you're buying matches what's being marketed. That information is available at your county tax office and is something your Realtor can help you check.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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