Can I legally cut trees, dig a pond, or make other landscape changes before the property is paid off?
2007-11-14 06:53:08 · 7 answers · asked by tfromd2007 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Sure you can -- you do all of that.
Basically, when you buy a house with a mortgage, you legally own the home and land, and your mortgage company holds a mortgage lien on your property. That lien must be satisfied by the time you sell the property, and they can file a claim for your property based on that lien if you default on the loan, but they do not own your land.
Because of the lien, however, the mortgage company or any other lien holder may have legal options if you attempt to do something that would dramatically lower the value of your property -- for example, if you were planning to raze your current hour in order to build a new one, they might be concerned. They usually have the right to force you to carry insurance on the liened properties, etc. But they do not own your property.
2007-11-14 07:14:25 · answer #1 · answered by Hazydave 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi:
If you are paying mortgage on a house you can cut trees and do any other type of landscaping. I am a landscaper and designer and the only problem I have seen my clients run into is if you were living in a certain subdivision that my have laws on certain type of landscapes in yards. If there is no laws or you don't live in a subdivision, go ahead and make the investment as it will pay off down the road.
I hope this has helped some and take a look at my website landscape solutions for you. I will direct you to my site map and also my garden project page. The site map has a lot of information on different ideas, tips, techniques as well as outdoor projects such as building a pond. There are photos of plants and descriptions that may help you when deciding what to plant throughout your landscape beds.
Good luck to you and if you need any other assistance, please feel free to contact me at the website. Have a great day!
Kimberly
http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Site.html
http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.com/Garden.html
2007-11-14 16:13:46 · answer #2 · answered by Kimberly C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a mortgage then yes. Of course, you have to check with local laws. If you are in a gated community then be sure to double check with them. They usually get a little upset when people make changes without consulting them.
Now, I have heard of people who were renting with a goal of buying. You would be getting a house from the owner. You pay a monthly payment to the owner with the idea that after a certain amount of time, you would become the owner of the property. In that case, you are not currently the owner of the property and cannot make changes unless it was agreed to beforehand.
One way to know the difference. Whose name is on the tax bill for the property. If it is yours then you are the owner of the property and you can make changes. If it is in someone else's name then you might have to get permission from someone. In any event, you need to check the laws.
2007-11-14 15:00:27 · answer #3 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what my be legally allowed within your subdivision/homeowners association. Check that, easeways, access rights, etc. Make sure the trees you want to cut aren't protected or listed as endangered - your Ag Extension agent should be able to help you with a lot of these things.
2007-11-14 16:39:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can do anything you want to even though you still owe on the mortgage.
2007-11-14 14:59:19 · answer #5 · answered by big_mustache 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Keep all your receipts of everything you do to your house, those are called "improvements" and when you sell the house, you can take them off your taxes.
2007-11-14 15:40:16 · answer #6 · answered by Isadora 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do what ever you like.
2007-11-14 17:27:51 · answer #7 · answered by cfb193 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋