In 2006 I bought a house by land contract for 199K. I put down 20K and for three years paid on-time a monthly payment of interest of 9.25% a year. In the meantime, the economy took a fall, and our house isn't worth what is used to be. At the end of the three years, the owner tried to force me to refinance--which I refused. I tried to sell the house for the 180K that I owe after three years, but to no avail. The landlord agreed to lower my interest rate to 7% and give me another 18 month extension. Now after 5 1/2 years he is again asking us to refinance and buy the house. I still owe him 180K, but I don't want to buy the house.

Here's my question: can he, by law, force me to buy the house?

First, if you bought using a land sales contract, you don't own the house so you couldn't sell it. Second, if this is truly a contract and not a mortgage, then you need to read the contract on what happens if you default.

He can't force you to buy the house. But if you default on the land contract you will lose all the money you invested in the house such as downpayment and any payments made so far on the home. Reread your contract and see if there is anything said about you being forced to buy the house any earlier than you had agreed on over time.