Unsophisticated Buyer Finds Himself Owning A Pig In A Poke; Shells Out $11K For Vacant Lot For Future Home Site, Then Finds Out Additional $75K Needed To Install Water & Sewer Lines

In Edinburgh, Texas, KRGV-TV Channel 5 reports:

• An Edinburg family's dream of a house in the country turned into a land deal disaster. A hard working family wants their hard-earned money back.
  
  Jorge and his son, George Robledo, are like a lot of hard working Rio Grande Valley middle class families, who work in the oil fields.
  
  The Robledos dreamed for a bigger house for their family in the country.
  
  The son went overseas to work in the oil fields in South Africa. He sent money home, until they had enough for a down payment for some land. They had $11,000 saved.
  
  George Robledo and his dad thought they found their piece of heaven two years ago in an underdeveloped area in Edinburg, owned by Jose Mora Garza.
  
  George Robledo wants his money back from this land deal. “He told us his story, we told him our story, you know we got along, so you know, I’m a first-time buyer. I went along with him. I trusted him. I felt good about it”, he said.
  
  Jorge Robledo said Garza appeared more helpful after the down payment paid Garza’s property taxes. He said Garza offered to clear off the lot of the tall grass.
  
  He said Garza told him after the first payment he would clean up the lot.
  
  Jorge Robledo said the dream fell apart after the money was paid.
  
  He said the land drawings were not legal or accurate. There was no sewer or water access. It was going to cost $75,000 to put in water and sewer lines.
  
  George Robledo said he felt shocked and helpless. “I just didn't understand. There are rules to the land, I just learned about the regulations, obviously and the sewage that make sense to me,” he said.
  
  They have a stack of papers showing everything the Robledos tried to do to get their money back over an 18-month period.

For more, see Family's Dream House Turns into Land Deal Disaster.