Sinkhole concerns

[gpirate]

The Orlando Sentinel had this article on sinkholes in TV & surrounding areas today.

Sinkholes increasing: Repair companies say sinkholes on the rise in Lake County - OrlandoSentinel.com (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-lake-county-sinkholes-20130413,0,7506563.column)

This is a big concern of ours in moving here. Should it be or is it rare this ever happens in TV? I have seen some posting that it is almost impossible to get Sinkhole Coverage Ins. Realtors seem not to want to discuss it when we are in the area looking for homes and villages. Am I making too much out of this?

[mickey100]

If you are serious about buying, I would double check with insurance companies in the area to confirm you are able to get sinkhole insurance. If so, no worry. I thought it was interesting in the article that a professor of geology stated that sinkholes are much more common in this area than developers and real estate agents would have you believe. I know we never heard about them until after we moved here. That said, its nothing I even think about, as we happen to have the insurance.

[Bogie Shooter]

The Orlando Sentinel had this article on sinkholes in TV & surrounding areas today.

Sinkholes increasing: Repair companies say sinkholes on the rise in Lake County - OrlandoSentinel.com (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-lake-county-sinkholes-20130413,0,7506563.column)

This is a big concern of ours in moving here. Should it be or is it rare this ever happens in TV? I have seen some posting that it is almost impossible to get Sinkhole Coverage Ins. Realtors seem not to want to discuss it when we are in the area looking for homes and villages. Am I making too much out of this?

Ah, our friend Lauren Ritchie.
There are most likely concerns among the 100,000+ residents of TV. I for one do not lay awake at night worring about sink holes. There have been and will be more in the future, sinkholes in TV. BTW most of the villages is not in Lake county.
You can do a search on sinkholes and get more information than you can possibly need.

[gomoho]

All houses are eligible for catastrophic coverage - if your house is condemned. The rub is if you develop a sink hole that needs to be filled to prevent you home falling in - then I believe you are on your own unless you have specific coverage for those circumstances which is the difficult coverage to get.

Sinkholes are a fact in life in Florida and other parts of the country as well. The ability to live here and enjoy all this state has to offer is trade of in my opinion to take the risk of a sinkhole, hurricane, alligator attack or whatever. All depends on your own peace of mind, but I don't think most of us really stress or worry about the what ifs. We protect ourselves the best we know how and enjoy life - nothing is guaranteed.

[jpharmat]

While sinkholes are a concern in Florida (as well as other area in the U.S.) I refuse to loose sleep over them. Buy your house and enjoy a beverage or two downtown.... we are only on this planet for a short time. Life is not a dress rehersal.

[rjm1cc]

I think you have to accept the possibility of a sink hole and be willing to self insure the risk of minor sink holes (You home owners insurance will cover you if you home is destroyed). Minor sink holes means damage that does not prevent you from living in your home, not that the repair might be inexpensive. If you can get insurance when you buy it does not mean you can get it next year. That is why I said you have to be willing to self insure.

[missypie]

Sinkholes??? Am I concerned? Of course! When we lived in southern California, I was always wondering if the "big one" was coming every time we had an earthquake. We installed baby latches on our upper kitchen cabinets so that the shaking would not throw the dishes out onto the floor where our babies were crawing on.

Then we moved to North Carolina and were hit by a 100 year hurricane Hugo! BTW: went into labor that night.

Moral of my story is.......where is it totally safe?

[gpirate]

Thanks for the input and I will check into insurance when I come to TV next time. If I can get insurance coverage would not be a problem. Any insurance companies you would want to suggest checking with?

[janmcn]

Sinkholes??? Am I concerned? Of course! When we lived in southern California, I was always wondering if the "big one" was coming every time we had an earthquake. We installed baby latches on our upper kitchen cabinets so that the shaking would not throw the dishes out onto the floor where our babies were crawing on.

Then we moved to North Carolina and were hit by a 100 year hurricane Hugo! BTW: went into labor that night.

Moral of my story is.......where is it totally safe?

The big difference is most people can buy insurance to protect themselves against natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, etc.

In the case of sinkholes, insurance is very limited and even if you can buy it, the deductable can run several thousand dollars depending on the value of your property.

[golf4me]

The big difference is most people can buy insurance to protect themselves against natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, etc.

In the case of sinkholes, insurance is very limited and even if you can buy it, the deductable can run several thousand dollars depending on the value of your property.

But do remember, that is NOT just in TV. The insurance change in sinkholes is all of Florida. And is recent,the lack of complete coverage, most have catastrophic coverage for sinkholes. Every place has it's dangers. There have been more homes devastated by lightning here in TV than by sinkholes in the last ten years. I am really more concerned with losing my property to a lightning strike than sinking into the ground. But not too concerned with either.

[mickey100]

All of Florida does get sinkholes, however according to USGS, west central Florida is the most prone.

[GatorFan]

Part of catastrophic ground collapse does state your home has to be condemned. That simply means the county will require you move till repairs are made and home is safe to occupy. The same applies if you have a fire at your home and the county condemns your property due to electric damage and home is not safe to live in till repairs are made. Another way to look at difference is that catastrophic ground collage is visable and sinkholes are not. Catastrophic is included in all property policies in Florida by law with the same deductible as fire, lightning, etc.

[mickey100]

From the people I've known who've been involved with sinkholes, it seems to be more of a nuisance than anything. Cracks in the floor, that type of thing; mitigation was performed and all was well. However, I'd guess that a sinkhole prone neighborhood might affect property values in a negative way.

[gpirate]

While sinkholes are a concern in Florida (as well as other area in the U.S.) I refuse to loose sleep over them. Buy your house and enjoy a beverage or two downtown.... we are only on this planet for a short time. Life is not a dress rehersal.

I like your attitude and most of the time I agree with what you are saying. I like your thought process of have a beverage.

[perrjojo]

The Orlando Sentinel had this article on sinkholes in TV & surrounding areas today.

Sinkholes increasing: Repair companies say sinkholes on the rise in Lake County - OrlandoSentinel.com (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-lake-county-sinkholes-20130413,0,7506563.column)

This is a big concern of ours in moving here. Should it be or is it rare this ever happens in TV? I have seen some posting that it is almost impossible to get Sinkhole Coverage Ins. Realtors seem not to want to discuss it when we are in the area looking for homes and villages. Am I making too much out of this?

Gpirate, you did not say where you are living now. As others have stated, yes, Cental Florida has a possibility of sinkholes. Other parts of our country have earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, flood, droughts, hail, and etc, etc. One of the greatest hazards in our country often goes unmentioned and there is no insurance to protect against it and it is a silent killer. That hazard is radon gas. We even pay ihigh prices to bring it into our homes in the form of granite countertops. Yes, granite counter tops are a stretch but many believe it is an issue. Oh, btw, you could be killed in an automobile if you drive. Your concers are legitimate but it's all relative.

[gpirate]

I reside in Ga. at the present time. Just like all the activities in TV as I am sure all of you that have made the move do as well.

[perrjojo]

I reside in Ga. at the present time. Just like all the activities in TV as I am sure all of you that have made the move do as well.

We lived in Woodstock, GA prior to moving here. Our home there tested VERY high for Radon gas. It is a problem in many states and Georgia is one. As I said before, nothing happens to your home, it just has been believed to cause lung cancer and other respiratory problems. Had never heard of it til we moved there. I guess there is a risk of some sort where ever you live.

[2BNTV]

When visiting the west coast, I asked someone if they were afraid of earthquakes. Their response was, The benefits of the lifestyle outweigh the risks and after a while you don't think about it anymore. Hmmmmm..........
That sounds like living in TV. :smiley:

Everyplace has some downside. Who would have thought that Sandy would devestate the northeast and then there is always three feet of snow to deal with and everything closed for several days.

There is risk no matter where you live.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Thanks for the input and I will check into insurance when I come to TV next time. If I can get insurance coverage would not be a problem. Any insurance companies you would want to suggest checking with?

I don't worry about sinkholes as life is to short. keep in mind that sinkhole insurance has a 10% deductible and that 10% is 10% of the insured value of your home so a $200,000 home will carry a $20,000 deductible