What Are The FHA Guidelines On Cesspools?

I saw a movie in the 1970s with people wading in a cesspool searching for money planted to see how far people will go for money.

Great information George. I just had to educate myself regarding Grinder Pumps - a unit that macerates and lifts the sewage to a pipe to the public system.

Being up to speed, on all systems house related - and loan related is critical to being a well-rounded real estate pro. Thanks for the FHA information.

George A home with a cess pool tells me the home's hardly been updated in 100 yrs, I'd see it as an encumbrance to sale of the home.

George, like Judi, I had not heard of cesspools, but Ginny talks about them on occasion.    We have leech fields in rural areas.

George this issue is very relevant to my market place.   It is important to have a lender who fully understand this situation.

We have a town in aour service area that has been scheduled to get sewers installed, but the delays keep adding on time, and so it is now becoming a real issue as to what to do with old cesspools... the State wants all replacede with septics, but with the coming of sdewers, the expense is high, and then will have to be upgraded in any event when sewers do in fact come to town... a real issue...

Dear George,

Although I have heard of cesspools, I did not realize that people still use them. Having lived in the country, I have come across some of the other systems (including composting systems), but never a cesspool. How interesting.

Thanks for the definition of cesspools..

 

 

 

 

 

 

George - I run into this all the time since I live in a rural area and sell farms.  It's becoming a huge issue in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of Maryland.  There are all types of systems now and many carry huge price tags.  I always suggest a Sewage Disposal System inspection (regardless of loan type) and 99% of the time buyers have one done.  There used to be a "Dye" test where an inspector put, usually blue, dye in the toilet bowls and flush the toilets, then look for blue coloration on the ground.  Most often, now, the entire tank portion of the system is dug up and exposed for leakage and the drain fields (if there are any) are sampled for coloration of the soils to insure proper functioning.  FHA is usually ok if the system passes the inspection.  Good post. 

Great post and as you found out there is no right answer.  We have to have all "alternative" systems checked and certified with each sale.  The seller in most cases is responsible for this cost.

Another great piece of advice George...asked that again recently of a lender.

 

Thank you for the well written post. Cesspools and Septic’s are common in rural areas. Agents always call prior to an offer when the home is not connected to the city sewer system. An inspection is only required if either the appraiser or home inspector notes a problem in his report. The seller usually is responsible for the cost of pumping and often pays for the inspection. A cesspool or septic has never prevented me from doing a loan.

 

We sell homes here with cesspools with no problem. They are common in the rural west side of my county. We call them "redwood boxes" since most are lined with redwood which is also common here. Enjoyed your post, thank you.

I haven't heard that term in years!  We deal with a lot of septic tanks but a cesspool isn't something I had even thought about.  Bet there are some around here though since we still have a few places with outhouses too. 

This must be "Cesspool Week". There was another article on FHA & Cesspools just a day or so ago here on AR. Anyway, Y'all both wrote pretty much the same, so I can safely assume that the info is accurate!

Now you've got my curiosity aroused - I'll have to learn the difference between cesspools and septic systems. I live in a rural area, so most homes have septic tanks and drainfields - and they DO have to be at least 100 feet from a well or any "live water."

George we did not think anyone would allow cesspools anymore.