Thread: My husband tried to sell his house and got conned

In 2007, just before we got married, my husband tried to sell his house. He was a first time house owner and therefore a first time house seller. He used the same real estate agent who he went with to buy the house thinking that she was a trustworthy agent. She told him of another real estate agent that she knew that said he would pay my husband $8800.00 dollars as a down payment and would buy the house as is. When it was time to close the deal, which they did at a bank and not at a title company, the so called buyer presented my husband with a warrenty deed, which he had his brother, a real estate lawyer draw up. It stated that the deal would be completed when the buyer was able to obtain his own mortagage plus he also presented a warrenty deed. He told my husband that he would make two payments on the mortgage, which is in my husband's name, and then obtain a mortgage of his own. Well, it is now four years later and he has not gotten his own mortgage, the mortgage is still in my husband's name but, the buyer has registered the house in his name with the county. He does still make the payments but, most of the time he is either late making them or does not make the payments in full each month. We have tried the New Mexico real estate commission but, got no where. Does anyone have any suggestions or can recommend a good real estate lawyer in Albuquerque that can help get this problem resolved? The buyer has a family member living in the house and has not made any move to try to fix it up or to sell it. I am sure we are not the only ones he has done this to. Any help would be greatly appreciated.