1.

Garrett and Coleman purchase a two-family house as an investment with the intent to earn income from the rental of the property. To make the property more attractive to renters, they improved the landscaping by planting trees and bushes and dividing the backyard with a privacy fence. They furnished the two apartments and installed new kitchen appliances.

The two-family house is now being foreclosed upon. The brothers are allowed to keep their personal property. They removed the furniture, dishwasher, toaster oven, throw rugs and new light fixtures. They dug up the two decorative trees they planted last spring.

Did they take anything that is not classified as personal property? If so, what?

2.

Garrett and Coleman purchase a two-family house as an investment with the intent to earn income from the rental of the property. To make the property more attractive to renters, they improved the landscaping by planting trees and bushes and dividing the backyard with a privacy fence. They furnished the two apartments and installed new kitchen appliances.

The property does not rent well and the brothers are losing money. This causes friction between the brothers. Garrett's own home is foreclosed upon and he moves into one of the empty apartments without the consents of Coleman. He changes the locks and will not allow Coleman into the apartment or his half of the backyard to show the apartment to potential renters. When Coleman complains, Garrett says that he owns 50% of the property and so he can do anything he wants with his half.

Is Garrett correct?

3.

Garrett and Coleman purchase a two-family house as an investment with the intent to earn income from the rental of the property. To make the property more attractive to renters, they improved the landscaping by planting trees and bushes and dividing the backyard with a privacy fence. They furnished the two apartments and installed new kitchen appliances.

Garrett and Coleman are brothers. The brothers are each married and each wants his share to be inherited by his children.

What would be the best form of ownership to choose?

4.

Garrett and Coleman purchase a two-family house as an investment with the intent to earn income from the rental of the property. To make the property more attractive to renters, they improved the landscaping by planting trees and bushes and dividing the backyard with a privacy fence. They furnished the two apartments and installed new kitchen appliances.

Garrett and Coleman are brothers. Each is unmarried. In the event of the death of one brother, they each want the other brother to inherit the entire property.

What form of ownership would ensure that outcome?