When I initially moved to Jacksonville, I bought a house that I couldn’t afford.
The real estate market was making it very difficult to purchase a home.
Properties were selling very quickly and often for above the asking price. I was in the process of relocating from the northern part of the country to accept a job at a brand new company. The company showed real promise and offered me a significant increase in salary and prestige. Feeling pressure to secure living arrangements and getting swept up in the dynamic real estate market, I made an offer on a home on the St. Johns river. The house was far bigger than I needed. I loved the gorgeous view of the river and boat dock. I had aspirations of buying a kayak, paddleboard and someday, a small sailboat. I should have been slightly suspicious by the brand new appliances, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, walls and floors. I later realized that everything had been replaced due to flood damage. I was barely covering the mortgage payments when a hurricane hit, the river overflowed and water rushed into my home. Not only did the dirty flood water destroy all of my furnishings, floors, appliances and fixtures, it created problems with moisture. This led to mold and mildew growth, musty odors and health concerns. At about that same time, my company went bankrupt and I lost my job. There was no way I could afford the expense of repairs. I also knew that selling the house in its current condition would be just about impossible. My solution was to contact a cash home buyer that accepts houses in any state of disrepair.