When buyers find termite damage after buying a new home, they often wonder if the mortgage company required a termite inspection before making the loan. Termite damage is one of the most unwelcome surprises that a homeowner can find. Some lenders will require a WDI inspection before they allow the mortgage loan to close, but it is not always absolute protection for you as the homeowner. Things can still go wrong, and you may be stuck with the bill if wood-destroying insects cause property damage.
Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers help home buyers bring claims and file lawsuits against dishonest and negligent home sellers, house flippers, real estate agents and termite inspection companies across Maryland. Our attorneys recover compensation for buyers to repair hidden damage and defects and for emotional distress. We offer legal consultations.
If you need a real estate lawyer near me to help with hidden damage, failure to disclose defects, negligence or fraud in the purchase of a house, call us at 410 583 8000 or use our Online Quick Contact Form.
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Lenders and WDI / Termite Inspections
Mortgage lenders care most about protecting their own investment when they have lent you money. The last thing they want is for someone to fail to make their mortgage payments every month. This is when lenders end up losing money. Home buyers who suddenly discover termite damage may not be able to pay their mortgage bill or could try to get out of the deal, and the bank would be left holding the bag.
For this reason, some mortgage lenders in Maryland will require a termite inspection before they will close on the loan. They do this to protect themselves and not to protect you. The WDI inspection is for the bank’s convenience, so as long as someone puts down on paper that the home does not have termite damage or infestation, the bank will go through with its commitment.
However, some termite inspections are negligent, and sometimes, real estate agents lie to their buyers about whether a termite inspection had really been performed. In scenarios like these, buyers have legal rights.
Termite Inspections Are a Condition of Many Loans
The standard sales contract in the state of Maryland will contain a termite inspection clause. Not only may banks require the inspection, but your agent might tell you that loans administered by the FHA or VA must have a termite inspection. However, some of these loans are approved even without a termite inspection.
While this is a safeguard in the system designed to protect you as the home buyer, it does not always turn out that way in practice. There are numerous people in the process whose negligence or deceit can leave you stuck with a home that has undisclosed termite damage that can cost you a fortune to fix.
For example, the termite inspector can be negligent in its job and fail to see signs of WDI damage or an infestation. Alternatively, the home seller or the real estate agent can lie or fail to disclose WDI issues. Either way, you do not need to end up on the short end of the stick when it comes to termite damage. By working with a real estate lawyer, you can file a lawsuit against the party who was responsible for your financial damages from termite damage. People in the sales process can be found legally liable for negligence or lying.
Real Estate Attorneys for Termite Damage Lawsuits
If a mortgage loan was approved but you found termite damage in your home, you have legal rights against a negligent or fraudulent party.
If you were the victim of a dishonest seller, real estate agent or WDI/termite inspection company in Maryland, contact Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers at 410 583 8000, or use our Online Quick Contact Form, for your Legal Consultation.
We represent homebuyers throughout Maryland, including Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Frederick, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Dundalk, Towson, Bowie, Aspen Hill and Wheaton.