LanaLang

I recently inherited my parent's home in Oak Forest Section 15. I was intending to remodel and sell because I had some bad experiences with leasers and contractors. When it came time to get permits I found that the home is now in the FLOODWAY!!!! I am only allowed to increase the value of the home by a prescribed amount. The property value went up, the home value went down. I am going to lease the home until I find out what can be done to avoid having to sell for land value only. I know that over 10,000 homes have suffered the same fate and am wondering if there is an action group trying to do something about this. My home has never flooded! We are close to the bayou on Watonga. What would it take to get the city or whoever is in charge of these things to widen or deep the bayou so that the home is out of the floodway? Any suggestions? Also advice about finding good leasors. Frustrated in Houston

Hello, I grew up from my teen years (16) at 4305 Verdome Lane, Houston, 770932, Oak Forest -Section 15, Block 8, Lot 8. The home now belongs to me and I have been agonizing over what to do since I received the latest unpleasant news. This home is my brother's and my inheritance. The home was in major disrepair, so we decided to remodel and sell. Many discouraging experiences with contractors and poor work have taken their toll. In order to finance the remodel, the deed was filed in my name so that I could get a home improvement loan based on market value and pay off an unfortunate tax lien. Finally after a major struggle with a loan company, Gonzalez Financial Holdings, Inc., which by the way I would avoid like the plague,(an aside, GFH,Inc. is the only loan company licenesed in Texas to make tax lien loans!), I was able to get the documents needed to file a deed in my name and get a home improvement loan. The last of a line of contractors found that our home was in the FLOOD WAY!!!.when he went to get a permit. He did not have a "number" and said that I must get the permit myself. Now I don't know what to do. My home is not the only one now in the flood way and I am wondering what other home owners in this situation are doing. I was told that I could only put a certain amount of money into the remodeling project. It looks like someone (insurance companies) don't want to raise the market value beyond a certain value. In fact this is the first year the land value went up and the building value went down. This looks like a "Catch 22" situation. How can you sell a home in the FloodWay? I am discouraged beyond measure. My husband is a school teacher and we don't have big bucks to raise the eleveation over 2 feet!!! When I asked about "buy out", I was told that my home did not qualify because it had not sustained any flood damage. In fact the flood damage had to be 50% of the value of the house!. I don't even think the area has sustained a flood. It seems like something wicked is afoot! Needing advice and support, LanaLang