Potential Sinkhole?
 

A friend was ready to buy a lot in Gilchrist and the Villages Agent advised them there was a 'potential sinkhole" on the lot.

Anyone heard of that?

:confused:

Sounds like a story to me to get them to look at something else for whatever reason.

I think it's great the salesman told him. We were looking through pre-owned houses with Lyle Gant's listings, which have all the multilist stuff. We found two houses next door to each other in Sunset Pointe, just two blocks away from the beautiful house we rented this summer. Both had in the listing that there had been a sinkhole which at been repaired with piers rather than just fill and had a lifetime warrantly. Of course the listing tried to make that sound like a good thing. Any thoughts?

No, that was definitely not the case.

The Villages agent should be applauded for providing that information. Your friend was lucky to find this out before buying.

What about the developer's warranty?
 

I'm very curious about what a "potential sinkhole" is, and how to recognize it? Why would The Villages developer even sell a lot that had a sinkhole when the developer does have a warranty period on the house to be built? If the developer's warranty does not protect against a sinkhole that it knew or should have known existed on the lot, then that means that all buyers of new lots must hire their own inspectors before settlement to check for these "potential sinkholes". Is this thread cause for concern to a soon to be Villager such as myself (who has a lot in Fernandina and will be building by May 2013), or is it another rumor without substance?

Swampy

Well now that was my point exactly - how on earth does someone know there is a potential sinkhole and if that it is the case seems like the developer is opening himself up for a lawsuit if someone buys the lot and subsequently loses their home. Something is not right with this story.
I think the salesman is holding the lot for another buyer and trying to direct the first one to another location. Sorry I'm a skeptic.

Do you know which lot in Ghilchrist? Might be helpful for others to know. Can you ask your friend and post more details?

Every lot in Central Florida has a potential for a sink hole.

Where in sunset pointe?

Just behind the Lake Miona Rec Center, southwest of Lake Sumter.

It is indeed possible that it was true. There are sinkholes here and in all of central Florida. It is hard to understand how anyone would know that there is a potential sinkhole. Was this lot near water? Why don't you call the sales office and talk to the boss, tell them who the agent was and what they said and find out from someone in authority just what the official word is on this and report back to us. One of us could do it but we don't know the lot number or the agent. Go to the people who know and find out.

It is also possible that some tiny word in your friends statement was misunderstood or repeated incorrectly..such as that there is always a potential for a sinkhole ...or something similar.... that is how rumors are started and we do rumors better on this forum than any place I know.

You got that right ................

Is it a one of the really nice homes in Sunset Pointe, who is giving the lifetime warranty, and is it priced right.

you can view the home for sale on gants website just pull up sunset point yep the price is right for the home, but can you get insurance, and if you can't then no mortgage if they used pillars i would think it was not able to just fill but just my thought

I know nothing beyond the posting as Asian pointed out. The one thing I found odd, at least to my near ignorance about sink holes, is these house are on top of a bit of a rise. I keep trying to think if you stay away from water, find a higher place, you might be safer. Proves what I know. I also should point out this is really pretty close to the edge of Lake Miona, which is not only the largest body of water around that area, but surrounded by an extensive wetland.

Keep in mind that the entire state of Florida sits on water soluble limestone. A sinkhole can, and does, happen anywhere on the peninsula.

According to a major insurance company/agency, no reports of sink holes within a one mile radius of Gilchrist. They would not write sink hole coverage if there were.

I would love to hear what argument that the agent uses to support the theory of a potential sinkhole! Unless you use ground penetrating sonar, I don't know of any possible way to determine a potential sinkhole.

Perhaps the sales agent was mis-quoted or mis-understood. Perhaps all the sales agent was saying is that in florida there is always potential of a sink hole. Just a thought

I had a PM from another member who's friend was told the same thing.

He gave me the name of the street and cross street and they were identical.

:wave:

If that is the case this lot needs to come off the market NOW.

So what are the names of the streets?

Ragman, I'm with A-4...what is the location?
Inquiring minds want to know;)
Don't leave us hanging, Ragman. Or in this case, Don't let us dangling at the edge of a sinkhole. :)

It's the LAW !

Are you sure? I don't know the disclosure laws in Florida. I do know them in Ohio whence we came.

HOWEVER....and I mean NO disrespect to the OP who COULD call the sales department to speak to the person in charge who could clear this up...that the possibility strongly exists that this is a rumor.

We ALL KNOW that the potential for sinkholes exist here in The Villages and everywhere in Florida.

The developer has had huge success in selling houses and doesn't need to hide any danger on any lot to make money or ruin the reputation of a well run business.

We spread rumors on this forum and throughout this community and we do it fast and we do it well.

The OP knows the identity of the salesperson and the location of the lot and can check to see if this was accurately reported by visiting the sales office and speaking to someone in the know.

I have heard so many sincere, well meaning and inaccurate things told me by folks. Thank heavens for this forum, we have a shot at correcting misinformation.

The information I gave is accurate. I know all parties involved including the sales rep. well. I referred the rep. to the buyer. This same street information was corroborated independently to me by another TOTV member via a PM.

I don't want to name names without permission from the parties involved and disclosing the exact location on the open forum might have the same effect. I would never post hand-me-down gossip.

I have no idea how a "potential sinkhole" would be known or why if there was a possible problem the lot or lots affected would still be shown for sale(there are spec. houses and vacant 'for sale' lots surrounding the property). The purpose of my OP was to see if anyone had a similar experience. As individuals you can believe my post or not.

BTW my friends have now purchased a lot in a different section of Gilchrist.

:wave:

There are detailed maps available showing where sinkholes have been and ground conditions where sinkholes are more apt to form. Many of these maps are in the public domain; however, they are geological maps - and unless you have an overlay of TV streets/plot lines - virtually, of no use.

I just purchased in October and was offered sinkhole insurance "if the underwriter agreed." The underwriter was called and after a few minutes gave the thumbs up to the insurance. This raised my interest and I started looking for the sinkhole maps on-line and sure enough found them; but, heck if I could tell you where in TV the maps related. You can - however - see a pattern in sinkhole distribution.

This is not just a TV issue....Florida is sinkhole prone and as we play with the aquafier - it is likely to get worse.

Might be difficult to obtain insurance. Used to do quotes for homeowners and one of the questions was is there or has there been prior or present sinkholes on the property.

This too shall pass..........................

Sinkhole versus catastrophic collapse
 

Does anyone really understand what SINKHOLE insurance is really for???

I had a long conversation with one of the people at the insurance office at Lake Sumter Landing....she was very calming and quite knowledgeable and showed me pictures. Very interesting.....

Map
 

This lot and the one on either side are now shown as "unavailable". I know the lot on one side was in the process of construction. It will be interesting to see what they do with the lots.

:confused:

What do you think they will do with the lots?

Seems like making them unavailable is a good thing.

Please keep me up to date on the sinkhole in Gilchrist story. We have our design appt in April and that would not be a good thing! This will make the resale market strong!

I don't follow how it will make the resale market strong?

All you really need is a hand held GPS device to determine the coordinates of the lot in question and then go to the geological map and transfer the data. That should pinpoint your lot in reference to sinkholes or sinkhole prone areas. These devices are not expensive and you can get them locally at Radio Shack or Best Buy. Just a thought.

Seems like a good spot for a dog park.

My thoughts exactly. As long as the dogs and their owners walk gingerly through the park. Another thought I had was a community pool, since the hole is apparently already dug.

The OP would be doing prospective buyers a favor if he/she posted the lot numbers.

YEA AND WHO IN THERE RIGHT MIND WANTS THE NEXT LOT NEXT TO IT?:faint: