Can I sue my realtor/seller or title company for not disclosing a property line/boundary issue when I bought my house?
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Can I sue my realtor/seller or title company for not disclosing a property line/boundary issue when I bought my house?
I bought my house 8 years ago. The realtor/seller/title company did not disclose anything wrong with the property or issue with boundary. Then, 8 years later, we get a letter from the city to correct our fence that is apparently over our property line into the empty lot next to us. We try to appeal but got an email a day later from the city saying the letter was given in an error and that our case is more of
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Asked on November 28, 2017 under Real Estate Law, Minnesota
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
You can't sue the realtor: the realtor is not obligated to do research to determine if there are any issues but can rely on what they are told by the seller.
In theory, IF the seller knew of the issue and failed to disclose it, he could be liable--but only if he knew: there is no liability if the seller was innocent of knowledge of the problem. However, in your state (MN), the "statute of limitations," or time within which to sue, for a misrepresentation or failure to make a required disclosure (fraud) is only 6 years, so if you bought the property 8 years ago, it is too late to hold the seller liable even if he did know and intentionally hide this.
Similarly, while the title company could theoretically be liable for missing this, it is too late to hold them liable: the statutes of limitation for all the possible grounds to sue them (fraud; breach of contract; professional negligence) are all less than 8 years.
Your only recourse may be if you have title insurance that is in effect; if you do, you have whatever rights and recourse it gives you.
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