Fall in love with a house in a flood-prone neigborhood - Taylor lake village - Seabrook (Houston: for sale, insurance) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

MNCold · 02-13-2012, 01:55 PM

So I was at this open house by chance (I wasn't planning to by close to the water). It is in Timber Cove subdivision in Taylor Lake Village, near by Seabrook.

I immediately felt in love with the house. It is the 'This is it' kind of feeling.
Within 5 minutes, I knew that this is the home that I've been looking for.
It has everything that I wanted in a house and it fits my price range.
The Biggest problem:

When I asked the realtor about the flooding issue. She said that the neighborhood was flooded during IKE. The house across the street was flooded. The street was flooded. However, the house itself was NOT flooded as it was higher than the rest of the neighborhood.

My husband tried to convince me to stay out of it because 'it is not worth the risk'. I can't get over it. My head is telling me that my husband is right. The problem is I love the house so much that I'm trying convince us that the risk is small enough.

Please help share your insight!!!!! Am I crazy???

Sunderpig2 · 02-13-2012, 02:17 PM

Hmmm. Just look at a map, and see how many bodies of water are around in that area (Taylor Lake, Clear Lake to the south, and Galveston Bay to the east). I don't know... Maybe if it truly is much higher than the surrounding area, that'd help.

One must ask why it is for sale (if it's such a great place), and if the price range is maybe 'overly' good. Maybe it is the house for you. Just do your homework and really think about. I don't know if it's worth getting a surveyor, but asking the neighbors would be very smart to get a "reality check". I'd never trust a realtor's word, especially in Texas. I constantly hear of realtor's not being honest or upfront, or purposely allowing themselves to be in the dark about home issues.

DanielWayne · 02-13-2012, 02:20 PM

Yeah, it's real neat over there, but... When we came back to Houston after Ike had passed, that part of NASA Rd 1 near Taylor Lake literally had boats on or touching the road. That's after a lot of the water had receded.

When house searching - I wasn't that bothered by the risk of flooding, but the gf vetoed almost all houses east of I45 after we saw all the water that was remaining when we came back days after the storm (We lived in Webster). But then again if you don't mind the higher risk, and aren't averse to starting all over, then go for it.

Sunderpig2 · 02-13-2012, 02:29 PM

Just looked at a map, and saw that Timber Cove is actually on Taylor Lake. Also noticed, going upstream, that the lake winds into the Bayport industrial complex (ughh).

LostInHouston · 02-13-2012, 02:47 PM

FYI (in case you weren't aware) many of the mercury/gemini/apollo era astronauts lived in Timber Cove, lots of history in that subdivision... Houston 101: Neighborhood Of Astronauts - Houston News - Hair Balls

mtgmike · 02-13-2012, 03:02 PM

Houston has neighborhoods that have flooded, and neighborhoods that will.

Thats obviously a little tongue in cheek, but still fairly valid. Many areas that flooded have had significant improvements made to drainage. I wouldnt be scared, yet. Your realtor should be able to help you get additional information, start with that county's drainage district.

cheryjohns · 02-13-2012, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunderpig

Hmmm. Just look at a map, and see how many bodies of water are around in that area (Taylor Lake, Clear Lake to the south, and Galveston Bay to the east). I don't know... Maybe if it truly is much higher than the surrounding area, that'd help.

One must ask why it is for sale (if it's such a great place), and if the price range is maybe 'overly' good. Maybe it is the house for you. Just do your homework and really think about. I don't know if it's worth getting a surveyor, but asking the neighbors would be very smart to get a "reality check". I'd never trust a realtor's word, especially in Texas. I constantly hear of realtor's not being honest or upfront, or purposely allowing themselves to be in the dark about home issues.

Her realtor told her it had flooded.

Being that close to water, there is always the possibilty of future flooding, especially with the extreme weather that has been happening.

Everyone's tolerance is different. I meet people all of the time that have been repeatedly flooded and they don't seem to thing it's a huge deal. On the other hand, people like me think it's not a risk worth taking. You have to decide which you (and your husband!) are. Repeated flood claims will make for high insurance premiums. Things to consider.

texas7 · 02-13-2012, 05:29 PM

It could flood and if I weren't to adverse to the concern of potential flooding in the future, then I would definitely consider it - particularly if the house itself has never flooded before. But you and the hubby have to agree on a place so that you are both happy. A family member lives in Conroe, along the San Jacinto river, home has flooded about 5 times and they stay because they like it there.

houstonfan · 02-13-2012, 05:39 PM

I wouldn't do it. Find out who the builder was and see if you can find similar plan in another neighborhood. Are you sure you weren't swayed by the nice staging? I've seen exact floor plans but one house I fell in love iwth immediately while the other, so-so. They felt vastly different due to the soothing paint colors, scent, decor suited my style.
Another way to look at it, if all the other houses in that hood flooded, chances are resale in that area will be tough and prices will start dropping, so that's a return on investment risk in addition to actual flooding risk. Also, what will your flood insurance cost you?

MNCold · 02-13-2012, 08:05 PM

Thanks to those who replied. Actual, the person told me that the neighborhood has been flooded was the buyer's agent. She actually lived in the neighborhood.
I plan to ask my realtor tomorrow to take me there and find out more information about the flooding for me.
In the meanwhile, is there a site where I can plug in a property address and it would tell me about the flooding zone of the property as well as the history of flooding in the neighborhood?
Granted, it might not be the right house for everyone but it seems to be just right for me.
The house was built in the 1970 but it still has the orignial roof. I think it's time to replace it but it's a sign for me that the roof hasn't been damaged with all of the huricances that Houston had.

Houstonfan - You might right about the staging. I actually talked the stager of this house. If I ended up buying this house, I will have her come out and help me decorate my house.