Expert: Dick Dennis - 8/4/2009

Question
I bought a home in Aug 2007 and specifically asksed the owners if they ever had water damage and they stated no. I asked if it had ever flooded and they stated no. Mold was found by my inspector and they stated that they left the window in the basement open nd the neighbrs water hose flooded it and they just never wiped down the panel. In the documents it states "no water damage" but my neighbors said the houses including mine first three hae been flooding for over 5yrs. I have spen alot of money since in the first year I was told there ws nothing I could do. Is this true even when I asked after settling to give the house back becuase they had hidden the fact the carpet was all bad, a dog died in the basement (they claimed they did not have a dog at closing)? Is there not an agency that will assist with my case without upfront monies?
Now there is mold in the same places but much worse and my family and I can not live there until the mold is remediated since my mom gotsick from it.

Answer
This is a problem best solved by a good local real estate attorney, Robert. As long as you have the written evidence of the fraud, you should have no problem and perhaps the attorney will be willing to take the case of a contingency basis. There is nothing else that can be done. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis