If we sold our home to a couple on a 2 year contract 2 years ago and now the contract is up but they cannot pay the balance, what can we do?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If we sold our home to a couple on a 2 year contract 2 years ago and now the contract is up but they cannot pay the balance, what can we do?

They are not able to pay the balance owed because they do not have good credit, etc. What would you recommend?

Asked on August 9, 2015 under Real Estate Law, Oregon

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

If they cannot pay the balance, they are in breach of contract. You may be able to get the home back, but that is not certain unless you retained a security interest in it (e.g. had an agreement stating that you could repossess the home if the full price were not paid); or if the arrangement were that they would only take title once the full price were paid, then the home is still yours, and you can remove them if they stop paying by filing an ejectment action.

Or you could work with them and possibly rework your agreement with them, to give them more time to pay; contracts may always be revised or amended if both parties to the contract agree to do so.

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

If they cannot pay the balance, they are in breach of contract. You may be able to get the home back, but that is not certain unless you retained a security interest in it (e.g. had an agreement stating that you could repossess the home if the full price were not paid); or if the arrangement were that they would only take title once the full price were paid, then the home is still yours, and you can remove them if they stop paying by filing an ejectment action.

Or you could work with them and possibly rework your agreement with them, to give them more time to pay; contracts may always be revised or amended if both parties to the contract agree to do so.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption