bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

The Lawyer & the Loan

A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer 3 months to track down. After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply (actual letter):

“Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented an application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear title back to its origin.”

Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows (actual letter):

“Your letter regarding title in Case 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 215 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the US from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats the title to land prior to US ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into possession of Spain by “Right of Discovery” made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by then reigning monarch, Isabella. The good queen, being a pious woman and careful about titles, almost as much as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to fund Columbus' expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you know, is the vicar of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that He also made that part of the world called Louisiana. He, therefore, would be the owner of origin. I hope you find His original claim to be satisfactory. Now, may we have our loan?”

The loan was granted.

BB4A

😀👍

Krittermom

For once I’m in complete agreement with a lawyer.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

If I ever need a lawyer, I want that one!

Jesu S

Come, come. The lawyer relied on the word of the vicar of a parishner whose Father owned the land? Seems entirely hearsay and very fishy to me.

bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Thomas Jefferson was the President who negotiated & accomplished this purchase of 820 million sq. miles. All or major parts of 15 States were created by this acquisition. Those who want to re-write history hope to leave out this great American. Perfect? No. Is anyone?

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

A very clever attorney!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

And everyne is ignoring the better title of the Natural Americans who lived there.

bedouin Loc: Big Bend area, Texas

I was born in America. That makes me a "Native," and "Natural" American. These folks call themselves, Indians. No slight intended for delderby, only to political correctness.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Actually, they do NOT call themselves Indians. Indian is a title besowed on them by white men early in the settlement of North America by Europeans. Indians (Native Americans if you wish) called themselves as members of specific tribes (families). They didn't particulary worry about such things. If you were a member of their tribe, you may or may not be okay. If you were a member of a tribe that was friendly with them you either got a pass or were treated as a friend. If you were a member of a competing or non-friendly tribe, you were enslaved or killed. Yes, I am a member of the Chicasaw tribe and 1/4th Chicasaw (not Indian, they come from India... in south Asia). Oh and by the way, the only reason that this continent is called America is because of Americus Vespuci (another European) and not because the residents called it that. Oh, and we (the Indians) never called ourselves indians. That was a monicer applied by people stealing our lands (white Europeans). While you are at it, you might ask the govenment of the United States to please pay the Chickasaw the 40 to 60 million dollars that they were supposed to pay when they purchased Florida prior to our removal. Ummm what would that be now in current dollars and with accrued interes over the couple of hundred years of the United States ignoring their treaty?

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

I used to title Indians as Indians until recently, when I noticed Indians referred to as Natural (or Native) Americans - by Americans. It is interesting that those people prefer to be called Indians. Perhaps "Original Americans" or simply "Originals" might suit their case better.
I note that you did not comment on the question of land title - is it a "hot potato"? Does political correctness come into that? If so, whose politics?

elad Loc: Arizona

Interesting observations from a resident (according to your "bio") who resides in a country which had colonized half of the world. Just sayin'.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Yes - I sympathise with your point. Clive of India, for example, was quite a pirate. He is still revered as a hero by many a history teacher, instead of someone involved in systematically stripping a sub-continent of it's wealth. But I don't have to agree - neither do you colonials over the pond.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

When people ask me what my race is and I always want to say I am a Native American. Because of the very thing you said. I was born here. And in real truth, the Native Americans, they, too, immigrated to America a LONG time ago. They just settled it before anyone else. :-) Cheers.