Michigan couple sought a house discount, but ended up fighting a $1.55 million court judgment

NewsWorld NewsUS NewsA Michigan home inspection triggered a $150,000 price-cut fight; six years later, an appeals court wiped out a $1.55 million judgment against the buyers A Michigan home inspection triggered a $150,000 price-cut fight; six years later, an appeals court wiped out a $1.55 million judgment against the buyers The dispute began after the seller rejected the couple's repeated requests for a price reduction.

(Representational photo) Buying a house was supposed to be a new beginning for a Michigan couple looking for more space for their growing family. Roger Lewis and Nicole Susser found a home in Franklin Village and agreed to pay $1.275 million for it in November 2020.

But a request to lower the price by $150,000 after an inspection led to a disagreement that lasted nearly six years. The couple never got the house and were eventually ordered to pay more than $1.55 million. On Friday, October 23, the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned that judgment.According to the judgment document available on Justia, the trouble began when the couple raised concerns about the condition of the property.

They wanted the seller, Robert Blumberg, to reduce the price. He refused, and even when they lowered their request twice, he did not agree.Lewis and Susser eventually decided they were willing to buy the house for the original price.

But by then, Blumberg wanted to cancel the sale. Questions about his former wife's name appearing on the property's ownership records made the situation even more complicated.The disagreement eventually reached court, with both sides blaming each other for the failed purchase.

A jury initially ruled in favour of Blumberg, but the appeals court has now found that mistakes during the trial affected the verdict. The case will return to the lower court for further proceedings.How a home inspection changed everything Lewis and Susser signed the purchase agreement on November 22, 2020.

The house was being sold in its existing condition, but the agreement allowed them to have it inspected before completing the purchase.The inspection raised what the couple described as major problems. They first asked for $150,000 off the price.

When Blumberg refused, they reduced their request to $75,000 and then $35,000. Neither offer worked.According to the court ruling, Blumberg later told the jury that the requests had angered him and made him want to withdraw from the deal.On December 6, he signed paperwork to cancel the purchase and return the buyers' deposit.

Lewis and Susser, however, did not sign it. Instead, they told his representatives that they were ready to buy the property without a discount.Why the couple never moved into the house Another problem emerged when the property's ownership records were checked.

Blumberg's former wife was still named on the title, and he had been advised that this could prevent him from completing the sale under the existing agreement.Blumberg was willing to consider selling at the original price, but wanted to find another home before moving out.

He would not promise when he could complete the transaction.Lewis and Susser wanted to stick to the dates already agreed upon. The purchase was supposed to be completed between January 11 and 15, 2021, with the buyers getting possession immediately afterwards.Their lender cleared them to proceed, but the sale never happened.

On January 25, 2021, the couple sued Blumberg, asking the court to make him honour the agreement.During the case, it emerged that Blumberg's divorce judgment had already dealt with the ownership issue. His former wife's additional signature was not needed to transfer clear title.One more attempt to sell the house failed You use AI every day.

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