I moved to Jacksonville, Florida, shortly after graduating from school.
I was gleeful to leave behind the bitter hot and cold temperatures, snow and high taxes of the northeast.
Initially, I rented a small house in the city. As my work advanced, I was able to improve my living situation. I bought a property along the river. It was such a pleasure to step out on the back deck, drink a glass of wine and care about a view of the water. I’d sporadically spot dolphins or manatees. There were always boats, kayaks and jet skis going by. I should have questioned why I got such a enjoyable price on the house. I should have been distraught by the brand up-to-date floors, walls, living room cupboards and appliances. Coming from the northeast, I was not official with the threat of flooding. I lived in the property for almost two years. When a hurricane hit the Jacksonville area, the river overflowed its banks and my property flooded. I had more than six feet of dirty water inside the house, and not only did the water destroy the majority of appliances and compromise the floors, walls and fixtures, but it left behind a nasty, smelly residue. Because we were without power, I couldn’t run a fan, A/C or dehumidifier. It was the ideal conditions to grow black mold. The property was totally destroyed. There was no occasion of selling by conventional means, and I couldn’t live in the house. I had no idea what to do. A coworker of mine advocated a cash property buyer. I had always been under the impression that a cash offer was some type of scam, and my coworker assured me that she had worked with a local Jacksonville cash property customer and was completely content with the outcome, then she told me that there was no need for a property inspection or repairs and that I could expect to close on the property in under two weeks. She was right.