Seven Years After Buying Home, Couple Sent Unpaid Bill
Here's a shock a new home buyer would never expect. Years after closing, a bill comes in the mail for the street and sewer, essentials the builder usually pays for in a new development. It happened to a Sarpy County couple.
A bill the builder pays slipped by when the Grzywas closed on their home near 96th and Schram Road seven years ago. “Having to worry about paying special assessments is not something I want to think about,” says Mike Grzywa.
When trying to refinance, the couple discovered they had to pay $9,305.56 for special assessments. So seven years after moving in, the couple had to pay for the street and sewer in front of their house. A bill, like most homeowners assumed, would be paid at closing.
Frontier Homes says the special assessment payment was overlooked by the closing agent, so the builder got the money by mistake.
The Grzywas got a delinquent notice for $9,305.56 that included $1,676.52 interest. “It's not expected, it’s not fair, if I didn't pay my mortgage the bank would take my house,” says Melissa Grzywa. “If he doesn't pay these fees it gets put on to us and we have to cover it.”
A few years ago, the builder made several payments on the delinquent bill, but stopped when the economy slowed. Frontier Homes tells Fact Finders the Grzywas will be paid back within a couple of months.
“To refinance my house, these needed to be taken care of so I had to stop the bleeding and pay over $9,000 in special assessments,” says Mike.
Home buyers expect that street and sewer hookups are built into the cost of a home, but the Grzywas discovered if special assessments are missed, homeowners will pay more than expected years later. “I paid for that manhole and a bunch of other manholes in this neighborhood,” says Mike.
Stewart Title provided title insurance on the couple's home. Fact Finders contacted the company, which will now investigate if the homeowners should be reimbursed.
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