Introduction
The effects of the economic recession can still be felt by many Americans, who may find it hard to come up with the cash to buy a house. Fortunately, there is a way around the typical method of owning a house, i.e. paying for it. Depending on the circumstances, it is possible to get a house free, without acquiring it through inheritance or an auction.
Step 1
It is not part of a government program, does not require issuing threats to the existing owners and is perfectly legal. All that is required is for you to live in that house free for a certain number of years without the knowledge or concern of the owner of the house.
Step 2
Even though this may sound somewhat unbelievable, it is a perfectly legal way to own a house free of charge. In fact, if the legal owner of a house contests the ownership of their house in court, against someone who has occupied it for some time, the court will always rule in the favor of the squatter, assuming that he/she follows some simple rules, which we will get into in the course of the article.
Step 3
So why exactly would the government sanction laws which request the owner of a house to hand its ownership to a squatter? Well first and foremost, the government does not use the term “squatters” to individuals who have live in unoccupied houses. Instead, it chooses to call them an “adverse possessor”. However, don’t get too excited at the thought of moving into your rich neighbors’ house as soon as they go on vacation. Getting a house free is a little more complicated than that.
Step 4
The logic behind house free ownership from a taxpaying owner, to a non-paying tenant is to ensure that every piece of land should enjoy its best possible use. An absentee landlord who never visits his property, or has a representative to take car of the house, could leave the house unkempt, with graffiti, weeds, etc.
Step 5
This in turn could have a negative impact on the property values in the area. Considering the effect of leaving a house unattended, the law is always will to hand over the ownership of such a house free of charge to individuals who are able and willing to care of the house.
Tips
So what duration of time will the law require in order to hand over a house free to an “adverse possessor”? The amount of time required will vary from one state to the next. For instance, in Nevada an “adverse possessor” has to live in an abandoned house for at least 5 years before they can claim it as their own. In Hawaii, on the other hand, one has to occupy it for at least 30 years. The typical amount of time required by most states will range between 5-30 years.
However, the law does require that the house free should be able to meet minimal housing standards and the “adverse possessor” should occupy the house openly and notoriously with the knowledge of your neighbors. You also have to occupy the house for a continuous and interrupted period. If you can meet all of these requirements, then you can expect to acquire the house free of charge.
