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Originally Posted by TheCollierCpl
Sink holes are not caused by development. "Google" SINK. HOLES IN FLORIDA. The Florida geological survey has excellent web sites explaining exactly how sink holes occur. They also have a published map for the state showing each county and portions. The map is color coded to show the risk of sinkholes and the type. Sumter county is reasonably safe, but no area is completely safe. Remember "reasonably" is "relative".
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The government experts disagree with your statement about development not causing sinkholes. On page 3 of its booklest, cleverly titled "Sinkholes", the Southwest Florida Water Management District states: "Increased numbers of sinkholes can generally be attributed to changing or loading of the earth's surface with development such as retention ponds, buildings, changes in drainage patterns, heavy traffic, drilling vibration or sudden or gradual decline in groundwater levels....Urban construction, coupled with limestone depths of less than 200 feet, contributes to many of the modern sinkholes." This would seem to be common sense.
Apparently, it is now next to impossible to get sinkhole coverage in The Villages when you purchase a preowned home, but I understand that you can still get it, with a large deductible (10% of the dwelling value) on new homes. Many of us are grandfathered into existing policies, but our deductible has been raised to the 10% level. Who knows how much longer even this coverage will contine to be available. This subject is something to think about when you decide how much you want to invest in a home.