PAGE 4 August 19, 2009
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Real Estate Today
Citrus County Utility Division issues
warning about water testing schemes
A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond
It s license renewal time
The Citrus County Utilities Division is again warning homeowners to guard against
This month I am renewing my Real Estate school instructor
unscrupulous firms claiming that residents water is contaminated. There are at least two
license, as well as my mortgage broker license. For the required school in-
companies issuing post cards in Citrus saying the company tried to contact residents, who
structor continuing education, I traveled earlier this month to Palm Beach
need to test their water within 72 hours. “Don t fall for it,” said Citrus County Water Re-
Community College. This full day event was set up to jointly update ap-
sources Director Robert Knight. “If you have any reason to suspect your water supply is
prox. 40 real estate instructors, and 40 appraiser instructors at the same
contaminated, contact your local officials.” Those would be the county Utilities Division for
time. We were given information about all aspects of real estate by the
residents on county water, a private utility company for customers of those systems, or the
heads of the Dept Of Business and Professional Regulation (dbpr).
heath department if the resident is on a private well. “ If you are on a centrally supplied wa-
There are presently 307,500 licensed real estate persons in the state down from
ter system, contact the owners directly,” Knight said, adding, “Annually, they are required to
330,000 last year. More than half of these people have their licenses listed as inactive. There
issue a Consumer Confidence Report. It shows the results of water testing that is required to
are 9,800 licensed appraisers in the state. The news is that both the Appraisers, and the real
be done over the prior year.” For Citrus County utility customers, contact Bernadine Flood
estate industry are being carefully monitored for any type of fraud that will hurt the banks
Nichols at 527-7648, and she can mail residents a copy of the county s report for water sup-
any more than they have been.
plied to its customers. Customers can also look at the water report on line at the county s
My required mortgage broker renewal education is a 14 hour course I elected to
site at: www.bocc.citrus.fl.us/waterres/utilities/ccr/ccr.htm. Residents with wells can call
take at home. The 100 question test at the end was very comprehensive, and much more dif-
the local Environmental Health Office at 527-5295. It has a test kit that for a nominal cost
ficult than in past years. From 1990 to 2004 my corporation was both selling real estate, and
will test for harmful bacterial. Residents can also call the federal Environmental Protections
licensed to perform loans as a mortgage brokerage business. I simply sent in $300. every
Agency Hotline at 800-426-4791 or go to at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htm. The Bet-
two years and that was it. Now I would have to show that I met the minimum net worth,
ter Business Bureau advises that to avoid falling for water filter fraud, become suspicious
file quarterly reports, be responsible for any wrong doing from any of the mortgage brokers
when a salesperson or telemarketer suggests any of the following: The water in your area
under my brokerage, and comply with several other newly imposed rules.
is contaminated: Some unscrupulous dealers or salespeople may suggest that water in your
My course went over items such as, you as a client taking out a loan are entitled
area contains dangerous impurities such as lead or pesticides. If you do have any reason to
to a good faith estimate of all potential closing costs right after signing a loan application.
suspect that your local water supply is dangerous, first call the EPA s safe drinking water
This is so you do not have any surprises, such as needing more money, at closing. Then you
hotline at 800.426.4791.
are entitled to see the hud-1 closing statement at least one day before closing. I do not know
Their water-filtration products are certified or recommended by the U.S.
how many times my clients were in “a rush to close”, and ended up receiving the closing
government: The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is the provider of certification of
statement 10 minutes before closing. You do not want to do this, so inform your real estate
water treatment systems. An offer for an in-home test to check the safety of your water:
professional to inform the title company doing the closing that you want the opportunity to
In-home water tests can often be used by con artists to create a false impression that you
see that hud-1 statement at least one day before the closing, to review, and make any correc-
must purchase a water filter to protect your and your family s health. ?
Their company s
tions.
water filter doesn t require maintenance: All water filtration devices require some form of
My final point is that all buyers should appreciate the fact that your
maintenance, although it may be as simple as the occasional filter change. ?
Their water
professional agent be it real estate, appraiser, or mortgage broker has expended much of
filters remove all known contaminants: No water purification device can take out every
their time and money to obtain, and keep their licenses so they can serve you better. Darryl,
contaminant known to man.
Vicki and Shirley are “The Diamond Team” We are the seasoned professionals at Diamond
Residents who have problems with hardness, iron, clarity, or color in their water may
Investments Inc. If you are looking to buy property, we would appreciate the opportunity to
benefit from a water filter or water conditioner, but officials advise them to shop for a repu-
show you the many great deals we presently have, some with owner financing. Please call
table local firm with a history of doing business in the county or to hire one that works with
us at 352-447-4442. I ll see you around “The Campus”
the major home supplier stores.
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See all the listings in Citrus County on our Website
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(352) 257-2181 CELL
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Home E-Mail: bunnyadams@comcast.net
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