Dealing with a property line dispute with a neighbor is stressful enough. When you want to sell your house, it can be downright frustrating if you can’t agree on the location of the line between your houses. You may wonder whether you can even put up a “For Sale” sign.
Selling a house with a property line dispute is possible, but there are a few additional steps you’ll need to take to ensure everything proceeds smoothly and that there are no major legal issues down the road. Alan from Pyramid Properties has experience with these types of real estate transactions and some helpful advice for sellers.
What Is a Property Line Dispute?
A property line dispute happens when two neighbors disagree about the boundary between their properties. It might be a question about where one property ends and the other begins, or it could be an argument about encroachment, such as a shed or patio built over the invisible line.
Such disputes typically pop up during a title search, when a buyer’s lender or attorney digs into public records to confirm there’s a clear ownership trail. If they find conflicting information about the property line, that’s when the red flags start waving.
How To Handle a Property Dispute During a Home Sale
Selling a house with a property line dispute is possible, but buyers and lenders will want clarity. Many won’t move forward without documenting or resolving the issue.
Possible solutions include:
- Get a professional survey report to pinpoint the exact property boundary, which can help settle the disagreement or provide a solid starting point for negotiations.
- Negotiate a boundary agreement and record it with the county if you and your neighbor can agree on where the line should be.
- Consider easement rights, which allow the neighbor to continue using the disputed strip of land without giving up ownership.
Selling Without Resolving the Dispute
If you can’t reach an agreement before closing, you still have options for selling a house with a property line dispute.
Disclose Everything
Be up front with buyers and inform them of the dispute in writing to cover your legal bases and build trust with potential buyers.
Offer a Credit
You can offer buyers money to handle the dispute after closing to entice them to make a deal.
Sell As-Is
Some buyers are prepared to take on this issue with tact. Buyers like Alan at Pyramid Properties purchase homes in any condition, even those with sticky titles or boundary issues, for cash, eliminating many of the common problems associated with selling a house with a property line dispute.
Call Alan at Pyramid Properties for Help
Selling a house with a property line dispute or other issues (like a lis pendens) isn’t impossible, but it does take some extra planning. There’s almost always a path forward, especially when you work with a cash buyer like Alan at Pyramid Properties. He makes fair cash offers on properties in any condition, even when problems are lurking in the title search.
To learn more or request a free quote, call 901-504-5555 to talk with Alan.