The sale of Howey mansion
Despite a lawsuit by former owner’s son, the purchaser still expects to close deal
in Lake County has been delayed because of a legal challenge.
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS — The sale of the 20-room Howey mansion, considered a Lake County historical treasure, has been delayed because of a legal challenge.
After years of being vacant, the Spanish-tiled home went up for sale in April and a $630,000 bid by brothers Brad and Clay Cowherd of Florida Oranges Land Co. was accepted in May. They hope to use the home, built in 1925 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, for special events such as weddings and possibly as a bedand-breakfast.
Entangled in foreclosure lawsuits for years, the home’s mortgage was awarded by a judge to Nationstar bank in 2015.
Joseph Nemchik, an attorney representing a former owner’s son, has filed a motion in circuit court questioning the authenticity of signatures on a mortgage loan before a 2008 foreclosure that put the mansion in limbo.
The report, recently compiled by Gary Michaels, a forensic document examiner out of Colorado, claims that signatures on the original mortgage and note used to obtain the loan and eventual forged.
If proven right, Nemchik said it will void the sale and return possession of the home to his client and the trustee’s successor, Rick Ritter, son of the last owner, Marvel Zona.
“It’s a very sad case, really, because my mom was taken advantage of,” Ritter said. “But we’re going to fight this thing until I don’t have a breathe in me to take care of it.”
Lori Wall, a listing agent with Allison James Estates and foreclosure were Homes from Maitland, on Monday, said the closing has been “extended.”
“Closing end of month hopefully,” she said in a text message.
Brad Cowherd said he isn’t concerned and still expects to close by the end of this month. In an email, he called the lawsuit “frivolous” and said it has “no standing.”
The mansion was built in 1925 by William J. Howey, a citrus grower and unsuccessful twotime candidate for governor.