Real Property

I own two properties that I sold and carried the paper on, the people I sold to are behind in payments and want to give the property back to me, is a quck claim deed, the best type to use for them to return the property? I have done title serch and one property is okay the other I have to go through foreclosure because of debts they owe. I live in Texas the property is in Cal.

In refinancing a home can a new mortgagor loan more than the present loan to the morrgagee and have a first lien?

I just bought a real estate property at a county tax deed foreclosure auction. The property was foreclosed upon using the 'mortgage-style' method, NOT the 'in-rem' method. Do I have to wait any length of time before I can start an action to quiet title or can I proceed immediately? Also, am I correct in assuming that this action should not take as long or cost as much money as a normal quiet title action due to the fact that most of the research, fact finding and leg work has already been completed due to the tax deed foreclosure and all the information that is needed for the action is already contained in the case file which is of public record? What is the normal range of fees that an attorney would charge for such an action?

This is about encroachment on my property from a neighbor... i have bought a house in Silver Lake LA in 2008. and found out after purchase that there may be an issue of encroachment according to my architect--the neighbor on the side of my driveway has used approx three feet of my land to build a concrete staircase from side walk to access their side door; which in turn completely blocks any potential access from my drive way to the back /kitchen door which is located on the same side of the driveway. In order for me to access my house, I have to use the front door that's accesible only with stairway; OR walk around the entire outside perimeter of the house to get to the backdoor; which is at times troublesome and inconvenient. I am also deprived the use of appro. 3 feet of space in the back yard which would leave potential for access to the backyard from another way. The neighbor just informed me he is selling his home. I thought it would be a good time to bring up the issue for discussion. I am hoping for a fair and amicable resolution. I am hiring a surveyor at this time, what's your advise for my legal rights to my property? What do I have to do to proceed to file a claim ? What needs to be done next? I have called the neighbor who is an attorney, he said to let him know about the result of the survey. Should he share the cost of the survey in case there is in fact an entrenchment as the estimate is $1900? Should I also bring this up to his realtor? I wish my had brought this issue up at the time of my home purchase.Your advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

We are an end unit of 3 houses; the common wall of our bedrooms extends up and becomes the sole wall of their 2nd story and also continues down becoming one wall of our courtyard. Is that courtyard wall their wall or a common wall?