Opinions (Long)

[marlasmom]

When we bought our house there was a large orange grove in back of us and an abandoned right-of-way (21 feet) between us and the orange grove. Last summer we got a deed from the developers of our subdivision for the 21 feet that was between us and the orange grove. The orange grove has been leveled (not a tree left standing which annoys me a lot) and they are building very expensive houses on teeny tiny lots. Some of the 18 people on my street which fronts the orange grove had put fences or other property on their 21 feet and the developer tried to haul it off - claiming that the developer had no right to deed the property to us. The developer is now convinced that we in fact own that 21 feet and he is offering us $2,500 for it. What it seems to boil down to is that he can't build about 20 or 21 houses without our land. I don't think $2,500 is adequate compensation. I'd rather keep it and plant a vegetable garden. Hopefully the neighbors are getting together to present a united front.

What are your thoughts on how to proceed and can you venture a guess (I know it's a guess) as to what that property might be worth, bearing in mind that not granting him the land could cause him not to be able to build about 20 houses.

Thanks for your input.

 

[RobinMarie]

I'd pay a lot of money not to have 20 more houses around my property.

Do you want to sell it or build a garden? I'd plant orange trees there.

 

[Luv'sTink]

I wouldn't do it just because that would mean they would have build that much farther from my house. I cant stand how close houses are in sub-divisions.

I would think more than $2,500 if they can build 20 houses on it. 18 X $2500 = $45,000

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

$2,500 sounds like an awful paltry sum for all the aggravation selling might later bring.

I am guessing this is a minute fraction of the profit the developer stands to earn on these houses.

But my biggest concern would be that 20 more houses would up "their" voting block. No telling what changes to the neighborhood they may want to make to protect "their" expensive houses.

 

[MareQ]

I would tell the developer - Sorry - not selling at any cost and see how high he goes.

Something similiar happened to my parents when I was younger. They had bought an empty 1 acre lot that was next to our property. Well some developer bought property on the other side of our lot - I came home from school and found some guy ON OUR LAWN with a backhoe (not even on that lot - way past that lot on our lawn. They had ripped down a split rail fence my parents had put up - I was the only one home so I called Dad at work who asked me to bring the phone out to the guy - I ended up having to call the police. The developer was telling my father that WE had to prove to the developer that WE owned not only the 1 acre lot but the land our house was sitting on Yeah right - how about you prove to us that you bought it from somebody that actually owned it. Turned into an ugly battle which ended with the developer having to declare bankrupcy as without that acre and the 6 acres our HOUSE was on - he didn't have enough land to build his development that he had apparently been planning for over 5 years. WHOOPS

This was over 20 years ago and that land is still not developed.

Don't sell! DO you really want another 20 houses behind you???

 

[Cool-Beans]

If they're offering $2500, you know they'll pay more. Only a total moron offers what they are actually willing to pay.

I'd get a lawyer (a good one.)

 

[hackorydackorydac]

I'd get a lawyer (a good one.)

ITA. Just don't get one from the internet, for goodness' sake.

 

[Acklander]

get together with your neighbors ASAP so you can provide a united front. If everyone else sells, and you don't they will build a big old wall blocking out just your lot which would be even worse.

 

[unbroken chain]

Hence the value of title insurance. Fortunately the developer now agrees that you own it.

You might be able to calculate: How many houses can he build without your land and how many with? If 4 more houses, how much are the lots selling for?

Or, go to the courthouse and see what the developer paid for the orange grove. Think about what % the land of you and your neighbors bears to the total land he bought and get an idea that way.

 

[RitaZ.]

$2500 wouldn't be enough for me to sell it. In fact, it would have to be a really large amount for me to sell it. I'd prefer to keep the land around my house and their houses further away from it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

By law you can aquire the property by simply maintaining it which is what it appears that has been done, right?
You guys were maintaining and now you had it deeded to you.

Is this 21 extra feet from the end of your yard?
How big is your backyard? Huge? If you give up the 21 feet will it make a difference in your sq ft of your yard?

I wouldn't do it more than likely. Space is a premium.

 

[marlasmom]

No we were not maintaining it. I have an 8 foot fence (Which in Florida is built to the property line) and the extra 21 feet is behind my fence. It was land that the developer of our subdivision kept because he was planning to develop the orange grove himself.

I guess the issue is if we don't sell our 21 feet, then the developer of the orange grove will not be able to build about 18 houses. He has a lot of the infrastructure in and has building permits so changing the plat of the subdivision would be a huge job, if not impossible.

One of my neighbors said well we didn't have anything before and now we have $2,500 and I think it's wonderful. I said that's just an opening offer and I think that 21 feet is worth a whole lot more.

I really appreciate all your input. Thanks.

 

[M 'n C]

I have to agree with pp's who said not to sell esp for just $2500 that is a riduculously low sum.

 

[yeartolate]

$2500 for the joy of having housezillas in close proximity?

That is so not enough!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Hi,
In Illinois, when land that is a dedicated alley or right of way is vacated (public rights returned to private rights) it reverts to the parcel of land it was originaly taken from. So if the 21 foot right of way was taken entirely from the subdivision creating your lot then all of the property returns to you. If the property on the other side of the right of way is included in the same subdivision then the vacated right of way is divided in half.
again that is Illinois law and it can also be overuled by local ordinances exercising "home rule" authority.

Mikeeee

 

[rascalmom]

Find out what lots are selling for in your area & "compute" a fair vailue based on the square footage of the 21 feet. That should give you an idea. $2500 sounds really low. We received a few hundred recently just to extend a utility easement on a lot we own. We still own & have full use of the land.

 

[grlpwrd]

Yes, definitely hire a good lawyer. We don't know the particulars of the case, such as adverse possession laws and all that.

I will tell you that in the late 90s my MIL sold a lot of acreage and thought she hit the pot of gold when they paid her $125,000. That was nothing compared to the million dollar homes that now sit there and contributes to the congestion and overdevelopment. It sucks.

(Washingtonians, this is on Finn Hill in Kirkland.)