"Below soil water" hazard on seller's disclosure

[mike127]

Hi we are looking to buy our second home and the only item listed as a potential environmental hazard on the seller's disclosure is that there is "below soil water" either on the property or in a nearby area. What does this mean? Would we need to get a home inspection to get more details or would there be more information on the home survey? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

The property in question is in warren county NJ.

Mike

[Jim Katen]

Hi we are looking to buy our second home and the only item listed as a potential environmental hazard on the seller's disclosure is that there is "below soil water" either on the property or in a nearby area. What does this mean? Would we need to get a home inspection to get more details or would there be more information on the home survey? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

The property in question is in warren county NJ.

Mike

Get a home inspection. The seller's disclosure is worse than nothing. It's just a list of lies.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[kurt]

Yes. Lies.

Below soil water? That could mean amazingly screwed up things, or nothing.

Statements like that often mean they're providing a thin veil of disclosure to cover them when you discover the place is a swamp, or it's built on an artesian well, or something similar.

Maybe it's a sucker lot, i.e., the last lot in the subdivision that never sold because it's where all the other lots drain.

[mike127]

Jim, Kurt, thanks for the insight. We'll definitely get a home inspection but wanted to learn more about what this could possibly mean. Agreed -- it's very vague and warrants further investigation by a pro.

[inspector57]

Type in the address to google maps and select terrain. This can sometimes show the overall drainage of the area. Might yield some clues or maybe not, but it's free.