[Restrain]

Curious where the flood zones are? Here is the link. Put the address in, then click on 'View Map' when the map reference pops up. Map opens and you can figure out where the flood zones are

https://msc.fema.gov/portal

[Spring Hillian]

Originally Posted by retired11

Beware, realtors don't mention Homeowner's insurance, water bills or flood zones when you buy! Good call.

Why should they? They arent personal planners. What would they know about homeowners insurance, water bills and flood zones. People need to research costs and not depend on someone else to do it for them.

Its easy to find out if a property u r interested in is in a flood zone. Water bills can vary greatly depending on usage, homeowner insurance depends on many factors.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Spring Hillian

Why should they? They arent personal planners. What would they know about homeowners insurance, water bills and flood zones. People need to research costs and not depend on someone else to do it for them.

Its easy to find out if a property u r interested in is in a flood zone. Water bills can vary greatly depending on usage, homeowner insurance depends on many factors.

If one comes from a nanny state where you need lawyers and everyone to shepherd you through a home closing then it's not surprising that there's also an expectation that everything is carefully laid out.

Personally I would discount ANYTHING a realtor says about insurance, etc. When I looked into buying I called an agent here, discussed the range of premiums for homeowners and auto, looked online at FPL for their rates, looked up the flood information at floodsmart.gov, etc. HOA fees were very clearly denoted.

Where people get surprised is when they make blind decisions based upon myths or assumptions rather than facts. It's no different than someone who signs an ARM mortgage and wonders why the rates go up after a couple of years.

[Spring Hillian]

Originally Posted by markjames68

If one comes from a nanny state where you need lawyers and everyone to shepherd you through a home closing then it's not surprising that there's also an expectation that everything is carefully laid out.

Personally I would discount ANYTHING a realtor says about insurance, etc. When I looked into buying I called an agent here, discussed the range of premiums for homeowners and auto, looked online at FPL for their rates, looked up the flood information at floodsmart.gov, etc. HOA fees were very clearly denoted.

Where people get surprised is when they make blind decisions based upon myths or assumptions rather than facts. It's no different than someone who signs an ARM mortgage and wonders why the rates go up after a couple of years.

I agree 100%. I call it "personal responsibility".

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Spring Hillian

I agree 100%. I call it "personal responsibility".

I wonder what happened to Peggy Joseph?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=15&v=P36x8rTb3jI

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by SandyJet

AHHHH the rub. Realtors only have to disclose what they know. If you are getting a mortgage if it is in a flood zone the bank wont make you get it and a good lawyer always makes the contract contingent on flood insurance being under a certain amount and for seller to provide an elevatation certificate.

I was talking to a realtor about selling my house a few months ago. I started telling him about Sandy and he covered his ears and went LA LA LA LA LA LA LA. Till I stopped talking. He then said I must disclose material information to buyer if I know information. So if house flooded during sandy, I dont want to know cause if I know I have to disclose. Dont tell me anything wrong with your house. Termites, Absestos you name it.

It's easy enough to check public records on properties, whether or not a given house is in a flood plain should be included in theother information in those public records. Both the flood plain information and the base flood elevation is included. You better believe I would check those records on any properties I was considering buying, especially in flood prone areas like Florida.

And no, as a seller you don't have to tell me about problems with the house that you don't care to know about and hope I won't find out either. That is what inspections are for, and you can best believe I would never buy a house without thorough inspections.

[SandyJet]

Originally Posted by Travelassie

It's easy enough to check public records on properties, whether or not a given house is in a flood plain should be included in theother information in those public records. Both the flood plain information and the base flood elevation is included. You better believe I would check those records on any properties I was considering buying, especially in flood prone areas like Florida.

And no, as a seller you don't have to tell me about problems with the house that you don't care to know about and hope I won't find out either. That is what inspections are for, and you can best believe I would never buy a house without thorough inspections.

Inspections only tell you so much. When I bought my house the seller did not tell me a bunch of stuff wrong I found out myself over time.

For instance my house part is on a crawl space extension that has no access. The inspector cant look.

Also permits are an issue. Folks do tons of "in-kind" renovations. Meaning one kitchen, I gut kitchen and resheetrock and make it all new I have no problems selling house. But with sheetrock closed up you are guessing how plumbing and electrical works, the inspector cant go behind walls.

Then there is flooding damage. Once a year NFIP flood insurance sends out a statement of flood history or flood losses on a house. Buyers ask for them Up to 40% of homes in Sandy had no flood insurance at time of Sandy and many took policies out after Sandy and the form will say no flood losses ever.

Flood insurance records is a bit like car fax. If you dont have insurance for accidents and you bash into a pole. If you go to body shop and pay out of pocket for repair your car has not been in an accident.

One neighbor in Sandy now this is odd. Bought a house in 1988 never had water ever, she did not have a mortgage, when Sandy hit she tried to file a FEMA claim like her neighbors and apply for govt help to repair her home and was denied even though it was her primary home and she lived there 24 years. Turns out the prior owner filed a Fema claim in 1985 for a small amount in Hurricanne Gloria, never told her and it turns out once in a lifetime payout. She had 100k of damage to her house and nothing covered. All because no one told her in 1985 the long dead prior owner took it.

Looking at a flood map only tells you so much

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by SandyJet

Inspections only tell you so much. When I bought my house the seller did not tell me a bunch of stuff wrong I found out myself over time.

For instance my house part is on a crawl space extension that has no access. The inspector cant look.

Also permits are an issue. Folks do tons of "in-kind" renovations. Meaning one kitchen, I gut kitchen and resheetrock and make it all new I have no problems selling house. But with sheetrock closed up you are guessing how plumbing and electrical works, the inspector cant go behind walls.

Then there is flooding damage. Once a year NFIP flood insurance sends out a statement of flood history or flood losses on a house. Buyers ask for them Up to 40% of homes in Sandy had no flood insurance at time of Sandy and many took policies out after Sandy and the form will say no flood losses ever.

Flood insurance records is a bit like car fax. If you dont have insurance for accidents and you bash into a pole. If you go to body shop and pay out of pocket for repair your car has not been in an accident.

One neighbor in Sandy now this is odd. Bought a house in 1988 never had water ever, she did not have a mortgage, when Sandy hit she tried to file a FEMA claim like her neighbors and apply for govt help to repair her home and was denied even though it was her primary home and she lived there 24 years. Turns out the prior owner filed a Fema claim in 1985 for a small amount in Hurricanne Gloria, never told her and it turns out once in a lifetime payout. She had 100k of damage to her house and nothing covered. All because no one told her in 1985 the long dead prior owner took it.

Looking at a flood map only tells you so much

Strange, in every State I have owned a home in the seller MUST reveal any problems they are aware of and if they don't they remain liable if the buyer can demonstrate they knew about the problem. FL does not require this???

It was in every contract I signed when selling. I was required to reveal everything.

[kokonutty]

Originally Posted by markjames68

If one comes from a nanny state where you need lawyers and everyone to shepherd you through a home closing then it's not surprising that there's also an expectation that everything is carefully laid out.

Personally I would discount ANYTHING a realtor says about insurance, etc. When I looked into buying I called an agent here, discussed the range of premiums for homeowners and auto, looked online at FPL for their rates, looked up the flood information at floodsmart.gov, etc. HOA fees were very clearly denoted.

Where people get surprised is when they make blind decisions based upon myths or assumptions rather than facts. It's no different than someone who signs an ARM mortgage and wonders why the rates go up after a couple of years.

What does the term "nanny state" have to do with anything you wrote? And why is it a problem for people to use a lawyer when entering into what is often the largest financial deal in their lives, one that may affect their lives for thirty years or more? You're certainly not suggesting that a real estate salesman can provide all the counsel they need, and many people are simply not equipped to handle such a transaction alone.

[SandyJet]

In NY State there is a disclosure law for instance that buyer must disclose any defects or pay $500 to buyer at closing and get them to sign an affidavit after closing any defects are there problem.

99.9% of closing seller pays the $500 and buyers sign or seller wont sell you home.

We sold a house after my Mom passes away we owned 30 years nothing wrong at all with it. It was built 1923 our lawyer insisted we give buyer the $500 bucks.

He was like mold, lead paint, asbestos, termites, foundation issues may exist you dont know about why risk it over $500 bucks.