I'm with you on this one, chrom. sorry corri, could't disagree more.

this is classic meddling MIL behavior. Its manipulative, to say the least. If she doesn't get what she wants out of him, she does an end-run around him. This is getting inbetween the couple, and trying to pry them apart like a crowbar. It puts undue pressure on poor W, too, as now she has to try and appease both parties.
I don't care what you want to call it..."control issue" or other. Its not acceptable. You shouldn't have to put up with it in your own house...ahh, but its NOT your house, now, is it? nope..its HER house. always will be, until she either dies, or a complete stranger's name is on the deed.
I know, we've dealt with this in our family, too. well..."observed" it, anyway. LOL! MIL's house could have been ours; I am SO glad we opted out. BIL bought it, didn't keep it too long, then sold it to a cousin...but the ILs still think of it as their house, and it annoys the crap out of cuz. Luckily, its not too big of a deal, as IL's live 1000+ miles away. But anyway...yeah, selling property to family is one of those big no-no's...like discussing politics and religion. just say NO!