Sinkhole insurance in Home insurance (Erie, Northampton: mortgage, new home, purchase)

[EnigmaR]

I am moving to this area in may (new home in fox run estates). I was wondering either I need to take Sinkhole insurance or not. Is it defintely recommended or better to have kind. I read some posts about sink holes around tamaty rd. How about the sub division or area around fox run estates --ryan homes. It located at northwood ave and vanburen rd junction

[msfmpusa]

Dear Enigma,

ABSOLUTELY get sinkhole insurance!!! This section of PA - Northampton County in particular - floats on a bed of carbonate limestone.

Yesterday, I had my son remove a 4 x 4 foot patch of sod that was a depression in my back yard. The intention was to put top soil underneath to level it out with the surrounding ground.

What we found was shocking - there was NOTHING underneath! The sinkhole is over 6 foot deep and has a "throat" even deeper.

I was always "going to" get sinkhole insurance, but didn't. Now I am in a REAL bind as the sinkhole is within 10 feet of my home structure.

Do not take the chance. Pay the few extra dollars a month and have peace of mind before a sinkhole takes a piece of your wallet.

(A contractor friend of mine says that an inspector could condemn my home if he feels it will destabilize my foundation! I owe 27 more years on a house and property that I might not be able to reside in...... Boy do I dread making that call tomorrow!)

msfmpusa

[mczabe]

Good lord! I'm so sorry about your sinkhole. We just bought in another Ryan community in Northampton Cty. We know there wasn't limestone under us, but we do plan to add the sinkhole coverage after your post.

Yikes, I hope all goes well with your call tomorrow.

[valentine92]

Call and get the insurance it is relatiely cheap to purchase and you never know when you may need it.

4 sink holes opened up on my block a couple of years ago. Better to be safe than sorry.

[karen_s]

Absolutely get the insurance ASAP! My DH works in Palmer Township and is amazed at the amount of people who have sinkholes down there. One of his coworkers is frantic because they too did not get the insurance and now have a huge sinkhole in their back yard.

My aunt in Lower Nazareth Township has had some sinkhole problems on her property as well.

[mczabe]

Do I just call my insurance company and ask to add sinkhole insurance? Will they need to do an inspection? Since I just moved here, the entire concept of sinkholes seems so foreign.

[KeystoneGuy]

The risk of sinkholes is huge in this area.

I have one in my frontyard and my neighbor has one in back. You CAN'T get it is usually if you've already had a sinkhole. Many national carriers don't offer it here (Allstate, etc.), but some smaller ones (Erie, etc.) do offer it. It's ridiculously cheap (I didn't have it and now can't getit ). It doesn't offer complete protection because they pay off your mortgage usually, not get you into a comparable home - let alone "fixing" it.

I'm in a new development (within 10 years) that had been a farm, but you really need to research an area before moving into it to see if it's susceptible to sinkholes. I thought I did and still got caught.