House buying problems...........

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Messages
30,410
Location
Apple Valley, California
Didn't know what else to name this thread.

Since my dads mental health has failed and we had to put him in a home things are not looking good. Eventully my mom is going to lose their house. So I've started a house search.

Mom's health isn't good either.

First I must say that I'm a Desert rat. Have lived on dirt roads all my life, delt with septic tanks, wells, snakes, rode dirt bikes etc.


GF and I found a cute little house thats in my price range. It is a little farther out in the desert than I am currantly....But thats why I have a Jeep and not a Civic.

GF really likes the place and so do I. Great views, no noisey neighbors etc.

But while looking at the place an older couple that live on the next lot over came over to see who we were.

They gave us both the feeling that they don't want us to buy the place.

They told us stories about rattlesnakes living under the house, weird neighbors, even a story about a neighbor that was "attacked" by a bunch of Rattlers and died, etc.

Now I'm not a city slicker. I know that snakes don't attack in bunches like in the movies.

First I don't think they would be out walking in the desert with shorts and sneakers then standing on the porch talking to us while letting their poodles run around if there were so many Rattlesnakes around.

From what they told me the house we are looking at is the only place in the area on a well. Everybody else buys water or hauls it home.

Looking at the well.........The pipe that would feed the house is cut and the wires are pulled out of the conduit. The ground around the well was wet.

I "think" people in the area are using the well to get water for free. Would be easy to plug a generator onto the wires and clamp a hose onto the cut pipe to fill a water tank on a trailer then driving back home.

And if the house sells they will have to go back to hauling water or paying to have it delivered.

Another story is that theres no Propane delivery out there.......But every house has a Propane tank. Hmmmmmmm
 
If you want the house have a Realtor look up the pertinent info about the well, utilities, and a bit of history. You will probably be able to learn a lot. If purchasing the place just be sure to get a really good inspection done as well. They will go under the house and see about snakes and such. Sounds like those people are just trying to scare you away....but there could be some truth to the stories.
 
Wow those people sound like weirdos. It reminds me of a Scooby Doo cartoon where the guy tries to scare everyone off because he doesn't want anyone around to get in his way of doing something he shouldn't be.
 
They must have forgotten to tell you about the locusts in the area.... big ones... last year the ate up everything green, including a Prius...
 
Can you take control of your mothers estate by living with her for a while. See a lawyer and try to keep Medicaid from taking the house to take care of her when she gets "too sick". It may be to late but it seems a shame to lose that house to the gov't if I am understanding that aspect of your situation.
 
Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Can you take control of your mothers estate by living with her for a while. See a lawyer and try to keep Medicaid from taking the house to take care of her when she gets "too sick". It may be to late but it seems a shame to lose that house to the gov't if I am understanding that aspect of your situation.
We have tried all options and theres no way.
 
About the neighbours, older people may think ( I don't know your age ) but young people moving to the desert may mean many upsetting things to them noise partys all night you get the picture. Or maybe they are trying to hide something.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Can you take control of your mothers estate by living with her for a while. See a lawyer and try to keep Medicaid from taking the house to take care of her when she gets "too sick". It may be to late but it seems a shame to lose that house to the gov't if I am understanding that aspect of your situation.


Ummmm, isnt that why it is medicaid? It is last-chance insurance for when all other options are gone? If there is a home with some value, so be it.

That said, I thought that if one person was bad off, the surviving spouse was allowed to keep the house and some amount of assets to live... then when it would need to be invoked on the second person, those assets (home, most cash, etc) would need to get drawn down.

Its not really fair to the taxpaying population for a home to be kept while the parents are on medicaid.

That said, the actual situation isnt really that clear. Is it that when dad passes on, mom wont get enough SS/pension to maintain the bills?

Im not really putting 2+2 together as to how the OP buying a home deep in the desert does anything for the mother. Will she be moving in? If so, you might want to consider proximity to doctors, care, pharmacy, hospital, etc.

If I were you, I'd send another person (friends or whatver) to do what you did and see the response they get. Maybe since likely theyll never see the neighbors again (and nobody will really remember), they can dig into their questions real hard. This way its not you, who may end up living there, being the bad guy.

Who knows what illegal things they have going on (meth?) that they want as much of a buffer or empty homes protecting them from isolation-wise.
 
I thought Medicaid didn't count the person's primary residence. You are allowed to have one home I think. I don't see how they would kick the elderly spouse out of the residence and take the house. Medicaid could claim against the estate later on though. That's why you'd want to get the house transfered in your name as soon as possible. I think you should talk to a lawyer and don't listen to the nursing home. They will probably tell you that you need to give everything to them. http://www.elderlawanswers.com/resources/article.asp?id=6897&Section=4&state
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
If there is a home with some value, so be it.


Its not really fair to the taxpaying population for a home to be kept while the parents are on medicaid.

Im not really putting 2+2 together as to how the OP buying a home deep in the desert does anything for the mother. Will she be moving in? If so, you might want to consider proximity to doctors, care, pharmacy, hospital, etc.


This.......
 
Sounds like the neighbors want to buy it or have someone who wants to buy it. Heck with them, put an offer in on it.
 
Go for it. Get an outside cat if you have snake problems.

As to the help for the parents house, for all those providing advice, it's a California program, not federal. The state pays nursing home costs, and takes all the assets. There are ways of taking assets out of the estate, but it isn't simple, and takes time, a good lawyer and trusts.
 
Originally Posted By: ArrestMeRedZ

The state pays nursing home costs, and takes all the assets. There are ways of taking assets out of the estate, but it isn't simple, and takes time, a good lawyer and trusts.


How is that fair to those footing the bill?
 
It usually isn't, especially with modest estates. That's why it's so difficult.

In some cases, with a larger estate, the elders are committed without their consent to a nursing home and the state takes a lot more than they provide. In this situation, what the state does isn't fair, and it's up to the lawyers and heirs to prevent them from getting away with it.
 
Originally Posted By: ArrestMeRedZ
Go for it. Get an outside cat if you have snake problems.

As to the help for the parents house, for all those providing advice, it's a California program, not federal. The state pays nursing home costs, and takes all the assets. There are ways of taking assets out of the estate, but it isn't simple, and takes time, a good lawyer and trusts.


I think most realize Medicaid is state administered under some federal guidlines. From the link I posted, "In those states that have implemented the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the home is not counted as an asset for Medicaid eligibility purposes if the equity is less than $500,000 ($750,000 in some states). In all states, you may keep your house with no equity limit if your spouse or another dependent relative live there." So that's why I questioned why does his mother have to leave her residence and suggested to talk to a lawyer before selling or signing anything over.


As far as someone, not necessarily you, asking how is it fair. How is it fair that an elderly spouse would be removed from her residence because her husband is placed in a nursing home? Anyone could conceivable be in this situation when they get older and not have the $7,000+ month base costs for the medicore care in a nursing home and have to go on Medicaid. It's fair in the same way insurance is fair. The thing that isn't fair is that nursing homes charge $7-10k month for mostly medicore care.
 
Sounds awesome. Maybe we should all chip in $300 to buy the place and set up a BITOG time share retreat?
lol.gif


You seem to have correctly guessed the neighbors stealing water. Proof that you only own what you can defend, and this absentee landowner can't defend the place.
 
Originally Posted By: tom slick
You live in the desert and you're surprised that a weirdo came and talked to you about rattlesnakes?

Hahahahahah
 
My brother is in charge of my dads situation. My dad does not have a will and won't write one up even to this day. My brother has already started the paperwork regarding the property and how it will be going to the state to pay for my dads care.

Anyway. Went looking some more today. Closer to town and streets. Found a couple of places I'd be interested in. One in particular thats up on a hill with a view of the whole valley.

Gotta wait till tomorrow to call on them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom