[manaboutown]

Here is a link to some good maps of the limestone structure and sinkholes in Florida. Google Image Result for http://www.insurancejournal.com/img/articles/fl-sinkhole-map.jpg

This is a short but informative article about a company that fixes sinkholes, how many are appearing and where, many in Central Florida, Sinkhole Alley as it is known. http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...er-uppers.html

[Villageshooter]

Originally Posted by livsea2

We went to an open house and the agent was trying to down play the fact that there was sinkhole damage to the foundation. As soon as I heard that I turned around and followed the other three couples out the door before we even looked at the rest of the house. The agent wasn't hiding it though and I am sure it was because of disclosure laws.

Goes back to the same old thing buyer beware when it comes to a dollar bill

[graciegirl]

[Karron]

I am beginning to get "big dips" in the soil on my side lawn.... scary....
I am waiting to see if anything happens, or if it is a natural erosion problem..
Karron

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Karron

I am beginning to get "big dips" in the soil on my side lawn.... scary....
I am waiting to see if anything happens, or if it is a natural erosion problem..
Karron

Bogie, who knows everything will give you a link or tell you who to call. I would start by calling warranty, they know everything and know the right contacts.

Just remember that all natural settling is not sinkholes.

[Rango]

Originally Posted by Ron1Z

Do you have to reveal when you sell your home that you once had sink hole damage?

Yes. There is a rather lengthy document you must fill out when you sell that asks about all problems with the home you are selling.

[OldManTime]

Originally Posted by Veronica

there is an article and picture in my paper here in connecticut today of a huge sinkhole in the orlando area consuming a whole building. what are the odds of that happening in tv? can you get insurance for this? thank you.

Yes you can get sinkhole insurance, i have it with a large deductible.
Since i have been in The Villages, there have been many, dozens, even the Moffett center is on a sinkhole. Many of the retention ponds, have gone dry overnight.

[philnc]

I currently live in Palm Beach County where sinkholes are relatively unheard of. However we are giving serious consideration to moving to TV in the very near future and sinkholes are a serious consideration for us because insurance coverage is practically non existent any longer and if you can get it at all the copay deductibles are out of sight and getting worse. Yes you will be covered under Florida law for what is considered catastrophic ground collapse but that requires that the house be declared unlivable and condemned as a result and I believe that the deductibles still apply.
If you want to know more there is a lot of information available if you go to - myflorida.gov - where you will find numerous articles as well as sinkhole maps of Florida by county. There is also a listing of the 10 worst counties in the state for sinkholes, of the counties covered by TV only Sumter is not in the top ten, and advice as to how to at least try to minimize your susceptibility to them one suggestion is that the farther your house is from any kind of water feature the less the risk but personally I wouldn't count on that to much.
Everything in life is pretty much of a gamble unfortunately sinkholes is just one more and we all have to weigh the odds of whether the risk is outweighed by the lifestyle. Personally I am not any kind of a gambler but the more I learn about TV lifestyle the more I am convinced to give it a shot.

[Advogado]

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".

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.

[2BNTV]

I was informed by an insurance agent that it is hard to get sinkhole coverage with a low deductible because many people put in claims for any cracks in and around their homes and claimed it was a sinkhole problem.

I got the castrophic coverage only but it's better than nothing. I don't tend to worry about things I cannot control.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Advogado

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.

This allows people to think that the difficulty in getting sinkhole insurance is limited to The Villages, when in truth the difficulty is state wide. As you can see here this law firm refers to two other counties and it is because the insurance industry has been overwhelmed with a lot of claims, some of them for real damage so that sinkhole insurance is now as scarce as hen's teeth..

The Saga of Sinkhole Insurance in Florida - Law Firm Williams Law Association, P.A. Attorneys Tampa, Florida

[keithwand]

I have a TV sinkhole; its called my new house.
You move in then the sinkhole begins and swallows your money.
I love my sinkhole.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by Advogado

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.

Yet, based upon a recent poll, almost half of TOTV respondents actually favor more development.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

This allows people to think that the difficulty in getting sinkhole insurance is limited to The Villages, when in truth the difficulty is state wide. As you can see here this law firm refers to two other counties and it is because the insurance industry has been overwhelmed with a lot of claims, some of them for real damage so that sinkhole insurance is now as scarce as hen's teeth..

The Saga of Sinkhole Insurance in Florida - Law Firm Williams Law Association, P.A. Attorneys Tampa, Florida

This thread is entitled "tv sinkholes", but the sinkhole problem and unavailability of insurance are not unique to The Villages.

[BobAllen1290]

Originally Posted by Advogado

This thread is entitled "tv sinkholes", but the sinkhole problem and unavailability of insurance are not unique to The Villages.

Florida's insurance law changed effective 1/1/2013 which makes getting "sinkhole" coverage almost impossible ANYWHERE in Florida. Yes..there are exceptions just like buying a brandy-new home in TV, but many who were "grandfathered" are finding that either their carrier will not renew their coverage when it comes due or that the carrier has applied a VERY significant deductible if you want to renew.

If you are a NEW Florida home-buyer and you are buying a resale home you have about as much chance of getting it as John Glenn has of going on another space mission.

It is also worth repeating that "sinkhole" and "Catastrophic Ground Collapse" insurance are NOT the same thing. ALL Florida HO policies are REQUIRED to provide Catastrophic Ground Collapse riders.