Honolulu, Hawaii – When Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds purchased a one-acre lot in Hawaiian Paradise Park during a county tax auction in 2018, she had no idea that a $500,000 house would mistakenly be built on the property. The surprising mix-up has now resulted in legal disputes for Reynolds as she navigates through the aftermath of the confusion.
Living in California during the pandemic, Reynolds received an unexpected call from a real estate broker notifying her that a house had been sold on her property. The local developer Keaau Development Partnership had hired PJ’s Construction to build several homes in the subdivision but mistakenly constructed one on Reynolds’ lot.
Prompted by the mistake, legal action has been taken against Reynolds, the construction company, the architect, and others involved in the development project. Despite the developer’s offer for a neighboring lot of similar size and value, Reynolds declined, unwilling to set a precedent where individuals could build on someone else’s land and then sue for its value.
An attorney representing the developer explained that most lots in Hawaiian Paradise Park are identical, suggesting Reynolds may be trying to capitalize on the construction error for financial gain. In response, Reynolds filed a counterclaim against the developer, stating she was unaware of the unauthorized building on her lot.
The dispute over the mistaken construction has led to a complicated legal battle, with Reynolds, the developer, and others involved in the project pointing fingers at each other. Reynolds’ attorney emphasized the importance of addressing the situation properly to avoid setting dangerous precedents in property development and ownership.
As the case unfolds, concerns have been raised about the empty house on Reynolds’ lot attracting potential squatters, adding further complications to an already convoluted situation. Amidst the legal wrangling, the unexpected turn of events serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the importance of property rights and proper due diligence in real estate transactions.