You’ve put down the deposit, the deed is signed, and you think the house is yours. But imagine if, even after all that, the previous owners won’t move out. That’s what a Wake County woman says is happening to her right now.
On April 15, Angie Pearson did what she long considered was impossible. The single mother bought a home for herself and her daughter, Kennedy.
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“It’s insanely hard to do these types of things by yourself,” Pearson said. “It was a major accomplishment for me. It was a feeling I never felt before.”
The sellers, Jeff and Ellen Pope were waiting for a home to be built in Fuquay-Varina so they asked Pearson to enter into a rent back agreement. The agreement allowed the Popes to live in the sold home for 78 days after closing, if they paid Pearson, essentially, they entered a lease. Pearson agreed to the terms and the move out date for the Popes was set for July 15.
Pearson said she was deep into preparing for move in when she was alerted by the Popes that they would not leave by July 15. She filed for an eviction and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Eric Curry confirmed that an eviction was posted at that address on July 12. The Popes fought back and appealed the eviction and paid Pearson through the month of July, which halted the eviction. As part of the rent back agreement, the Popes must pay Pearson $75 for every day they stay past the 78 day term. However, WRAL 5 On Your Side spoke with attorney Chris Willet who explained that The Popes are still bound to the initial terms of the contract, and the $75 daily fee does not serve as an extension. Willet is not affiliated with the case.
Pearson and the Popes will meet back in court over the eviction appeal within three to six weeks.
Pearson told WRAL 5 On Your Side that the Popes initially did not pay her the daily fee. Jeff Pope explained to WRAL 5 On Your Side that he was late on the initial few days of payments past July 15 because he was waiting on rulings within the Wake County Court system.
Pearson tells WRAL 5 On Your Side that she is in limbo. Her daughter is set to start a new school late next month and Pearson would like to be moved in before that.
“I’m freaking out. My anxiety is at an all-time high. I have not been sleeping well,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, money is running out. I have furniture, I don’t know where I am going to put it.”
Keely Arthur spoke with Jeff Pope on the phone. He told her that he wants to move out as badly as Pearson wants to move in. He explained that the new home took longer to build than expected and blamed the supply chain. When asked why the Popes wouldn’t move into a hotel or temporary housing, he explained that wasn’t possible because they own several pets. He told WRAL 5 On Your Side that he and his wife plan to be out of the home by the middle of August.