Isn't it amazing that he can sound all broken hearted etc in his texts but yet planning a full on warfare against you? They're two faced, back stabbing beings. The only language they understand is their own- so you have to fight fire with fire.
What has your L sent to them so far? why does he claim there has been no willingness to settle? I don't trust anyone, not even my own L because the longer the case drags out and goes into trial it's more money to them. So I'm curious there. Here you have to do a financial discovery/disclosure as part of the divorce process. Once that is done you try to settle, failing that you go to trial.
Not knowing about the laws where you are my first question is what is your L suggesting advising you? What's his take on the house? Here the way it works is that any mortgage payment I'm paying on the house is considered my sole share in the house. So any amount I'm paying will be credited to me in the division of the house. She may even owe money to me on it. All depends on the equity and state laws etc. However, signing the house over shouldn't be the main issue here, the house should be a part of the overall divorce settlement. So I would be saying 'no piece mealing' let's get the whole settlement drafted, agreed and filed. He wants the house fine but he can pay you in cash etc whatever you want. It's called bargaining and your L should be advising you on it. If he's not, don't feel too bad because most of them are worthless like I'm finding out in my case so you have to find a better lawyer.
Me: 35|WAW: 38|D: 6yo | http://tinyurl.com/2dxx7m6 Feb 2006, left, came back in two weeks Aug 2006, left again Apr 2007, filed for divorce Dec 2007, reunited Mar 2010, moved out, filed again