Razaqi

I. BACKGROUND

Husband and wife married in 1999. In 2012, husband and wife wanted to move out of her parents’ house. They had sold their previous home in a short sale and

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Family Code.

2 discussed with husband’s brother, who was a realtor, how this might affect their credit. Husband’s brother suggested that instead of buying a home directly, husband and wife use sister as a straw buyer. Husband and wife would pay the mortgage, and sister would benefit from the tax write-offs. Escrow closed on the Property in May 2012. Afterwards, husband and wife made extensive improvements to the home, including remodeling the kitchen, without consulting sister. Husband and wife separated in 2015, but continued to live together. Wife testified that she and husband paid the entire amount of the down payment, and made the mortgage payments until she moved out of the home in August 2019. Wife testified that the agreement was supposed to last for at least a year or two, after which sister would transfer title to wife and husband. In 2017, wife and husband met with sister and informed her that they were divorcing and discussed selling the Property. Wife…