More On That Flower Mound Squatter Who Claims Home Ownership for $16 Bucks: He’s Got Himself a Swimming Pool

Share News:

Everyone is talking about the guy in Flower Mound — Kenneth Robinson — who moved into a $300,000 home at 2205 Waterford Drive and is claiming adverse possession. Dallas — actually, Flower Mound, has been making the national media rounds on this story. And Curbed graciously pointed out that Flower Mound is also the home of the Divorced Divas’ $20 million spread. The one with the musical toilets, ‘member?

Kenneth Robinson told WFAA-TV he moved into the house at 2205 Waterford Drive on June 17 because the home was abandoned for foreclosure, then the mortgage company that owned it went out of business. After researching a Texas law called “adverse possession” Robinson moved in. Robinson claims he filled out an online form and then filed it at the Denton County courthouse for $16. This gives him rights to the house, he claims, which was abandoned due to a foreclosure. Now he is claiming ownership.

Lewisville/Flower Mound Realtor Charles Nuber did a little digging for me and found that the owner of the home, a William P. Ferguson, moved out of the house but there seems to be no foreclosure on record. The home was built in 1997 and has a swimming pool. Ferguson bought the 3910 square foot home in 2004 for $276,000 ish. The home is now valued at $328,000. Ferguson appears to have a mortgage of $332,000. Which means he is underwater. The home was listed for $340,000 (reduced from $355,000) by KW agent Holly Hiller, who tells me she cannot comment due to client confidentiality.

The mortgagor was San Diego-based Accredited Home Lenders, who went into bankruptcy May 1, 2009.

According to AHL’s bankruptcy petition, its ten largest unsecured creditors hold “repurchaser claims” — (my son-in-law will clarify this for us):

  1. HSBC … $91 million
  2. Citigroup … $33 million
  3. Goldman Sachs …  $21 million
  4. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital … $13 million
  5. UBS … $9 million
  6. SG Mortgage … $6 million
  7. Wells Fargo … $5.7 million
  8. HSBC … $5.5 million
  9. Lehman Bros. … $5.6 million
  10. Merrill Lynch … $5.2 million

So there are two or more layers of litigation going on here. Now my head is swimming. If the water is off, as WFAA reported, what in the world is the condition of that pool? And what are the liabilities should anyone be injured on the property or in that pool?

Adverse possession is a common law concept developed in the 1800s to protect abandoned property. It requires posting clear, public notice that someone is at the property — like through a court filing — and that someone would remain in the home for a specific period of time. The idea was to make sure property was maintained and monitored by someone, anyone. Supposedly, and I am NOT an attorney, after the time requirement is satisfied, squatters like Robinson can claim clear title to the property. The original owner can fight the action, but what underwater homeowner on the verge of foreclosure is going to do that? This is a huge problem in Seattle and Florida, too, and many web sites are now offering on-line courses in how to claim abandond homes by adverse possession. They claim having warm bodies in a house is actually better for the neighborhood. They are, they claim, helping society.

Whatever company owns the assets of Accredited needs to step forward and go to court — that’s the only way to get Robinson out, I’m told. On the other hand, banks that are overwhelmed with foreclosures and robo-signing may just see this case as tinkling in the ocean. Which means, Robinson may well end up living in 2205 Waterford for a few long years.

Owner Name : Ferguson William P Tax Billing Zip : 75028
  Tax Billing Address : 2205 Waterford Dr Tax Billing Zip+4 : 2341
  Tax Billing City & State : Flower Mound TX Owner Occupied : O
Location Info:
  Location City : Flower Mound Panel Date : 03/30/1998
  School District : Lewisville ISD Flood Zone Code : X
  MLS Area : 41 Zoning : 549t
  MLS Sub Area : 3 Block ID : D
  Subdivision : Waterford Park Estate Ph 01 Lot Number : 2
  Census Tract : 217.14 Legal Description : Waterford Park Estates Ph 1 Blk D Lot 2
  Census Block : 2 Mapsco Book : DA
  Carrier Route : R059 Mapsco Page-Grid : 549-T
  Flood Zone Panel : 4807770533F
Tax Info:
  Parcel ID : SL1121A00000D000000020000 % Improv : 76%
  Short Parcel ID : R185594 Exemption : Homestead
Assessment & Tax
  Assessment
 
Assessment Year : 2008   2009   2010  
Assessment Type : Certified   Certified   Certified  
Mkt Value – Total : $357,137   $359,226   $328,385  
Mkt Value – Land : $79,807   $79,807   $79,807  
Mkt Value – Improved : $277,330   $279,419   $248,578  
Assd Value – Total : $357,137   $359,226   $328,385  
Yr-to-Yr Assd Value
Change ($)
:    $2,089   -$30,841  
Yr-to-Yr Assd Value
Change (%)
:    0.5%   -8.5%  
  Tax
 
Jurisdiction   Type Tax Year Tax Amount Chg ($) Chg (%) Tax Rate
Total Tax : Actual 2008  $7,377       
Total Tax : Actual 2009  $7,573  $196 2.6%  
Total Tax :   2010  $7,061  -$512 -6.7% 2.150300 
Town Of Flower Mound : Actual   $1,477      0.449700 
Denton County : Actual   $899      0.273900 
Lewisville Isd : Actual   $4,685      1.426700 
Characteristics:
  Universal Land Use : SFR County Use Code : Single Family
  State Use : Single Family Cooling Type : Central
  Lot Acres : .347 Heat Type : Central
  Porch : Open Porch Garage Type : Attached Garage
  Garage Sq Ft : 641 Building Sq Ft : 3269
  Gross Bldg Area : 3,910 Roof Material : Composition Shingle
  Roof Shape : Hip Stories : 2
  Interior Wall : Drywall Exterior : Brick Veneer
  Foundation : Slab Pool : Pool
  Total Baths : 3 Year Built : 1997
  Full Baths : 2 Effective Year Built : 1998
  Half Baths : 1 Fireplaces : 1
Last Market Sale:
  MLS Sold Date : 06/08/2004 MLS # : 10034680
  MLS Sold Price : $276,500
Sales History:
  Recording Date : 11/07/2005 07/19/2004 12/03/1997 00/00/1997
  Buyer Name : Ferguson William P Tritschler Mark & Melody Terry Theodore Jr & Lorie R  
  Buyer Name 2 :   Tritschler Melody Terry Lorie R  
  Seller Name : Tritschler Mark & Melody Terry Theodore Jr & Lorie R Concordia Homes  
  Document No : 138747 94879 84604 26142
  Document Type : Warranty Deed Warranty Deed Warranty Deed Deed (Reg)
Mortgage History:
  Mortgage Date : 11/07/2005 06/03/1999 12/03/1997  
  Mortgage Amt : $332,000 $225,700 $218,700  
  Mortgage Lender : Accredited Hm Lenders Nationsbanc Mtg Corp Alternative Cap Grp Inc  
  Mortgage Type : Conventional Conventional Conventional
Posted in

Candy Evans, founder and publisher of CandysDirt.com, is one of the nation’s leading real estate reporters.

10 Comments

  1. mary on July 21, 2011 at 10:02 am

    But what about property taxes? If Kenneth Robinson can't afford to have the water turned on, how is he going to pay the taxes on the property, which he is holding out as his own?

  2. mary on July 21, 2011 at 10:02 am

    But what about property taxes? If Kenneth Robinson can't afford to have the water turned on, how is he going to pay the taxes on the property, which he is holding out as his own?

  3. Dianne Samoff on July 21, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    What about property taxes, and what about HOA rules?

  4. Dianne Samoff on July 21, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    What about property taxes, and what about HOA rules?

  5. Amy Patrick on July 21, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    Underemployed engineer says: where are these squattable homes, and how can I get one for myself? I can afford water and property taxes if I'm not paying a mortgage…!

  6. Amy Patrick on July 21, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    Underemployed engineer says: where are these squattable homes, and how can I get one for myself? I can afford water and property taxes if I'm not paying a mortgage…!

  7. Steve on July 29, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Flower Mound, Texas’s own Kenneth Robinson adverse possession class coming soon!!!

    https://www.flowermoundtxofficial.com/23.htm

    alt site:
    http://www.adversepossession.com/?hop=flowerm

  8. Steve on July 29, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Flower Mound, Texas’s own Kenneth Robinson adverse possession class coming soon!!!

    https://www.flowermoundtxofficial.com/23.htm

    alt site:
    http://www.adversepossession.com/?hop=flowerm

  9. keith on May 27, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    I believe Mr.Robinson may just have himself a sweet deal. The bank probably can't show standing if they do sue him. Most mortgages have been collateralized into stock portfolios. Try and get to a single owner on the deed who has a right to sue. Good luck Bank of America.
    I believe Mr. Robinson will prevail and I also hope he does.

  10. keith on May 27, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    I believe Mr.Robinson may just have himself a sweet deal. The bank probably can't show standing if they do sue him. Most mortgages have been collateralized into stock portfolios. Try and get to a single owner on the deed who has a right to sue. Good luck Bank of America.
    I believe Mr. Robinson will prevail and I also hope he does.

Leave a Comment