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A Nevada lady is now the legal owner of an entire neighborhood after the title to her $594,481 property was incorrectly recorded to include 84 more homes valued an estimated $50 million.
The unknown lady, who responded ‘no comment’ with a smiling face emoji when approached by The Reno Gazette Journal, hoped to purchase one property in Sparks, northeast of Reno.
However, when she submitted her documentation with the Washoe County assessor, it was quickly discovered that there was a significant mistake, and she had an extra 84 properties and two common spaces.
According to the records, she owns ‘lots 1 through 85… and Common Areas A and B.’
Cori Burke, Washoe County’s chief deputy assessor, told The Gazette that it looked to be a typo made by Westminster Title, a Las Vegas-based agency.
That meant that the lady who intended to buy just one home ended up receiving title documents for dozens more, many of which have already been sold.
‘It seems Westminster Title out of Las Vegas copied and pasted a legal description from another Toll Brothers sale while preparing (the homebuyer’s) deed for recordation,’ she said.
‘Because it was evident that a mistake had been made, our assessment services section immediately contacted Westminster Title to begin working on repairing the chain of title for the 86 properties transferred in error.’
The ownership titles will now be returned to the developers, Toll Brothers, and properly reprinted.
The lady who erroneously gave them over may refuse to return them, but there’s no evidence she’s done so, and experts believe she’d almost surely lose in court. Burke said that such problems occur “pretty often,” owing mostly to copy-and-paste errors.
‘Because of the amount of lots involved, this particular case is a bit more fascinating,’ Burke remarked.
People may attempt to confuse the legal situation, she argued, but it would not hold up in court.
‘It’s simple for us, but we just see the recorded paperwork, not what the title firm goes through to get clear title,’ Burke said.
‘I believe someone could attempt to make things tough.’
‘However, the title firm also has the purchase offer and acceptance on file, so intent is very evident.’
‘I believe that would be a loser in court, and I doubt it occurs very frequently, if at all.’