A woman accidentally bought an entire neighbourhood of more than 80 homes after an costly error was made in the paperwork for her property. The unnamed buyer, from Nevada, purchased what she thought was just one house for $594,481 (£489,617.23) in Sparks, northeast of Reno, the Daily Star reports.
But when she filed the documentation with the assessor for Washoe County on July 25, a typo in the papers meant that she had actually bought 85 properties and two common spaces - priced at an estimated $50 million (£40,865,550.00). The file named as the owner of "lots 1 through 85 … and Common Areas A and B."
Cori Burke, the chief deputy assessor for Washoe County, said that error appeared to have been made Westminster Title, a Las Vegas-based company. The blunder meant that the woman was given the title deeds for the whole neighbourhood, according to The Reno Gazette Journal.
Burke added: "It appears Westminster Title out of Las Vegas may have copied and pasted a legal description from another Toll Brothers transfer when preparing (the homebuyer's) deed for recordation. Because it was pretty clear a mistake was made, our assessment services division reached out to Westminster Title right away so they could begin working on correcting the chain of title for the 86 properties transferred in error."
It has been reported that the ownership titles will be transferred back to the developers, Toll Brothers, and then reissued with the corrections, reports Daily Mail. The homeowner could reject the transfer however, there is no sign that she has stopped the process.
Burke said the mistake is more common than people think because of copying and pasting and added that the case would be a "loser in court." She explained: "This particular case is just a little more interesting because of the number of lots involved.
"It is cut-and-dry for us, but we only see the recorded documents, not what the title company goes through to get clear title,' Burke said. "I think someone could try to make things difficult.
"However, the title company also has the offer and acceptance for the purchase on file so intent is pretty clear."
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