     Dee Jordan (Cajun) | Sunday, May 07, 2000 - 03:26 am 
2 years ago I purchased the townhouse that I am now living in. At the time I figured that it was a great deal. All the other houses in the area were selling around $99,000 to $100,000. I was able to purchases my for $84,000.
During the buying process, the house was inspected by housing inspector and they found nothing wrong with the house.
However, no one told me, not the seller or my real estate agent, that the house had been vacant for many months due to an electrical short that caused a fire. Plus, due to a fire, they had to totally redue the inside of the house. Plus, had to pay to fix the roof of the adjoining townhouse.
I found all of this information out on my own when I joined the neighboorhood assn and was told by others who lived near me about the history of the house.
Moreover, I will need to put the house back on the market shortly, because my job is relocating me to another state. Under the law, do I have to disclosure that there was a fire in the house to my real estate agent, since I was never told when I purchase the house? |
| K. Edward O'Donnell (Senator) | Sunday, May 07, 2000 - 04:02 am
I believe that disclosure must only be provided for material defects--I don't think a previous fire counts. You should review the disclosure statement since it may vary from state to state. Consult a local atty versed in this subject.
I have found both disclosure statements and the inspection to be utterly worthless--better advice is: if you see something suspicious trust your gut. My basement leaked like a sieve--was it disclosed? no. And the home warranty package is a joke --if you can get them to pay through all the legal mumbo jumbo, then you get a tip of the hat. |
