Buying a Home That Had Hurricane Damage – What You Need to Know and Do

Introduction to Buying a Home That Had Hurricane Damage

If you’re in the market for a new home, buying one that’s been damaged by a major hurricane can be an exciting opportunity. But with this opportunity comes risk. If you don’t have the stomach for it, I wouldn’t recommend buying such a home. As much as we love our houses here on Earth, they are still just glorified boxes that provide us shelter from the elements (and sometimes debris). When something happens to those boxes, it can be devastating to homeowners who thought they had done everything right when building or purchasing their homes – but sometimes things just happen!

Buying a home in an area that has just been affected by a major storm can be a real challenge.

Buying a home in an area that has just been affected by a major storm can be a real challenge. You may find “windfall” prices for severely damaged homes that were uninsured or underinsured. Many of these properties will need extensive repairs, which could stretch your budget beyond what you think is reasonable.

If you are able to find affordable housing, it’s important to understand the risks involved with buying property in this price range and location. Prioritize safety over cost when selecting a house, such as looking for one built on stilts or concrete blocks instead of wood (which can be susceptible to fire).

If you have the stomach for it, there are some real buying opportunities!

If you have the stomach for it, there are some real buying opportunities!

• You can get a good deal on a home that has been severely damaged. Homes that have been damaged in a hurricane can be purchased at a significant discount. If you’re looking to buy in an area where there is still considerable damage from the hurricane, ask your real estate agent if they know any homes or apartments that were recently bought by banks and are being sold as REO (real estate owned) properties. These homes are often priced significantly below market value because they’ll require substantial repairs and upgrades before they’re ready to be listed in their full asking price. Also, check out local government websites for information about government-funded programs that provide grants or low-interest loans for people who need help repairing their homes after a natural disaster. Not only will these grants and loans reduce costs on your end, but they’ll also increase resale value when it’s time for you to sell!
• You can get a great deal on an abandoned home that was destroyed by flooding or other factors related to Hurricane Matthew. If someone took off during the storm and never returned after it passed over them, chances are good that no one’s going back anytime soon—especially if they lived far away from major cities like Jacksonville or Orlando which received less destruction than coastal areas like New Smyrna Beach or Titusville did (and already had higher home prices). Although these places may not be ideal places to raise families just yet due to risk factors such as proximity distance between homes built before 1980s code requirements were put into place–which means lower quality construction methods were used; however, this could change once reconstruction efforts begin after Hurricane Matthew passes through Florida next month.”

Key things to consider are the history of the home, cosmetic damage vs. structural damage, and how flooded the home was.

You might be wondering how to tell if a home was damaged by the floodwaters. This can be tricky since it’s not always obvious by looking at the exterior of a property. Here are some key things to consider:

• Make sure that you’re buying from someone who has an accurate record of what happened during and after Hurricane Harvey. Ask for receipts and photos that show how high water levels were on their property; this will help guide you in determining whether there was any structural damage done to a given property.
• Be aware that cosmetic damage and structural damage aren’t always visible from the outside of a building – even if there was interior flooding within the structure (which is often hidden once the drywall is repaired), it may not be visible at first glance! If possible, get into any homes you’re interested in purchasing before signing anything official so you can have time to fully inspect them yourself – this way nothing catches you off guard later down when the time comes around while negotiating prices etcetera…

You might find “windfall” prices for severely damaged homes that were uninsured or underinsured.

If you’re looking to buy a home in an area just hit by a major hurricane, then there are some things that you need to know. First of all, if the home was insured, you might be able to get a deal on a “windfall” price for severely damaged homes that were uninsured or underinsured.

On the other hand, if the home was destroyed and uninsured (or under-insured), then there’s no way around it: The owners may have been counting on selling their house after they repaired it; however, now they can’t sell and might have to sell at rock bottom prices just so they can recoup their losses.

Some sellers will not want to undertake any repairs – so you will likely need cash or serious financing to buy such properties.

Sellers have a choice to make: whether or not to undertake any repairs. Some sellers will not want to undertake any repairs, even if those repairs are fairly minor. This can be for a variety of reasons – maybe they just don’t have enough time and/or money, or maybe they are getting out of town and don’t want the hassle (or expense). Whatever the case may be, such properties will probably be cheaper than comparable ones that did require repairs; however, you will likely need cash or serious financing in order to buy such homes because sellers often won’t accept offers without a down payment or proof that you can pay for your closing costs.

If you are buying a home that needs repairs, it’s important that you anticipate these costs before purchasing the property. You’ll most likely need cash on hand for these expenses – but if there’s no way for you to come up with them yourself, check out this article about how loan options work after hurricane damage. There may also be contractors nearby who could help with some basic tasks like removing debris from outside areas – but keep in mind that these actions might not qualify as “major” under FEMA guidelines (and therefore would not result in reimbursement).

I hope this helps. The experience of buying after a major hurricane may not be for everyone but there can be great deals if you are willing to take on some risk!

Buying a home in an area just hit by a major hurricane may not be for everyone. But there can be great deals if you are willing to take on some risk!

I hope this helps. The experience of buying after a major hurricane may not be for everyone but there can be great deals if you are willing to take on some risk!

Be sure to do a thorough home inspection for wind and water damage, especially if the storm was recent (within the last 60 days). Be sure to check the roof as well as other areas that might have taken impact from wind or rain.

Be Sure to Do a Thorough Home Inspection for Wind and Water Damage

If you are planning to buy a home in an area that just experienced a major hurricane, it is important to be sure that the home has been inspected by a professional. The best way to do this is by hiring an inspector who has experience with homes impacted by hurricanes.

If your new home was damaged during a storm, then chances are good that it will need some repairs before it can be lived in safely again. Your real estate agent should know which contractors have experience fixing homes affected by hurricanes and tornadoes. You also want them to make sure that these contractors are licensed and insured before hiring them for repairs or remodeling projects on your new property!

Be Sure to Check The Roof

When you’re buying a home in an area that recently had a major hurricane, there are several things you’ll want to check for. These include water damage, leaks, damage to the roof structure and insulation, and shingles or siding that have come loose or have been blown away entirely. If you’re looking at an older home with asphalt shingles, this is also something to keep an eye out for: if they’ve become brittle or fallen apart completely it could mean that there’s some serious rot underneath them.

When inspecting the chimney (which is often forgotten about in these kinds of inspections), make sure there aren’t any cracks around its base where water may be seeping in and causing damage inside your home’s walls and foundation; more importantly, though is looking up inside of it at all levels from bottom most up towards topmost point—if there’s even one small hole found then consider replacing entire length before moving forward with purchase process!

Make Sure You Ask for All the Paperwork and Receipts From Insurance Companies and Contractors

When buying a home in an area just hit by a major hurricane, you want to make sure that the insurance company and contractors have been paid before you buy. If they haven’t been paid, then it is likely that the contractor will not finish their work and the insurance company may deny your claim. You also need to make sure that any claims are handled properly so that there are no delays with getting the money from your homeowner’s insurance policy.

If possible, get all of these receipts together before closing on your house so you can give them directly to your lawyer or real estate agent for safekeeping.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a home, but want to be sure that it has not been damaged by a hurricane, we can help. Just give us a call at 239-933-1766 or check out our real estate agent website and let us know what you are looking for. We will do our best to find a property that meets all of your needs!

Danny Skelly
Platinum Real Estate Marco Island
239-933-1766