Buried debris found after $5K escrow—seller lied, won’t refund. Help!

SlickyBronson

I put down a $5,000 escrow on a 40‑acre rural property, and jsut eight days later I found out the seller buried the remains of a burned‑down house and some appliances on the land—stuff that wasn’t mentioned in the condition report. The seller’s realtor is now saying they told us about it (which isn’t true) and they’re refusing to give the escrow back. What can I do?

tobikunshred

Yep, that’s sadly common. There used to be a loophole that sneaky realtor crooks loved to exploit.

VelcroViking

Probably have to get a lawyer.

FuryVandalX

Shit he did you a favor why be mad

CrimsonVigil

One might wonder whether it was disclosed in writing or not; a real estate attorney could handle that in just a moment.

MindCrackNexus

I realize I’ll have that with those rural properties. I went to the country once, and the feeling stayed with me. It’s the same even on a modest 5‑acre plot.

readingwizard

It’s really important to keep a record of any notices like that. You might want to ask the realtor for the paperwork that shows they let you know about these conditions. If they can’t provide proof, you can gently point out that the notification never actually happened.

PoloPikachuKrush

This isn’t a dealbreaker for me. In agriculture, I’ve observed that many things decompose in the soil, particularly when they’ve been burned. Nothing endures forever, and if nothing prevents you from continuing to burn it, perhaps you could treat that section as a trash and burn area?until you feel it has sufficiently shrunk and broken down. Meanwhile, I wonder if you might consider looking for a better property, especially if you have cash flow and this issue truly concerns you. It also seems possible to cover any remaining fragments with a substantial layer of dirt just let it settle naturally.

NightscapeRiff

Ask the realtor to show you where you signed acknowledging receipt of the information.

ViktorRise

If it’s not in writing anywhere, then it wasn’t disclosed to u. End of story.

darkrukim

If you want the property, tell them to clean it up and require a county follow‑up inspection no ifs, ands, or buts. If you no longer want the property, follow the refund request process; but if the contract says the down payment is non‑refundable, you’re in trouble.

ChillySwoliosis

I’ve come to realize that every state handles disclosures differently some follow a buyer‑be‑warned approach, so the seller isn’t required to disclose anything. When I’m not working with a Realtor, I feel it’s wise to reach out to a real‑estate attorney in my area for guidance.

Zepticree

Best I can tell you figured out the property either wasn't worth it or that you couldn't afford it.

50'X50' of junk on 40 acres isn't any reason to back out and if I was seller you wouldn't be getting your money back either. Not all too sure what local or state laws are where you're at but can't say I've heard of having to disclose a previous structure fire as being required here where I'm at.