Iowa A hasty mortgage approval has led to an almost-free house for an Ankeny couple.
Matt and Jamie Danielson own their $278,000 Ankeny home outright after making one payment to the lender and winning a court fight waged over a 123-year-old Iowa law.
The law's original intent was to protect a husband or wife from the foolishness or evil intent of a spouse. It requires the voiding of mortgages that aren't signed by both spouses. The Des Moines Register says Jamie Danielson didn't sign when she and Matt bought the home in May 2007.
They moved in, made one payment and then his business went under. They went to their attorney to file bankruptcy. He noticed that Jamie's signature was missing from mortgage documents, so he took their case to court.
