"Buyers Simply Don't Know to Beware"

    /24-7PressRelease/ - MARS HILL, NC, January 05, 2008 - It is not in the news and most people have forgotten that landslides devastated Western North Carolina in September 2004,lives were lost and homes and roads were pushed down mountain slopes. Since then this twice declared disaster region has become a developers' playground.

Bulldozers and backhoes work at breakneck speed to create idyllic mountain settings for resorts and homes. This prime or perhaps subprime property is then advertised and sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Authorities have known since 1983 that Western North Carolina's mountain ridges and slopes were extreme risk building locations yet they continue to allow the development and sale of this hazardous land without regulation and risk disclosure.

Today North Carolina lawmakers are studying this important public safety/disclosure measure. Some legislators have suggested that these issues be put on hold until 2014 when all of the at risk counties will have been mapped by the North Carolina Geological Survey.

On January 2, 2008, Representative Ray Rapp spoke with Becky Johnson of the Smokey Mountain News about his inability to gather support for safe slope regulations and disclosure of landslide risks. According to Ms. Johnson's article, Rapp is not a fan of the "caveat emptor" motto that has prevailed in WNC's development boom. Rapp said that buyers simply don't know to beware. Rapp continued, "All they see is a million-dollar view. They are looking at the view not at their feet-and what is underneath their feet-could be highly detrimental to their safety." For the complete article please see "Rapp tries to round up support for slope development bill." http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/01_08/01_02_08/fr_rapp_tries.html

According to a July 2007 article written by Tom Bennett for the Hiawassee River Watershed Coalition Inc., Rick A. Zechini, director of governmental affairs for the North Carolina Association of Realtors, sent e-mails to Realtors throughout the state. In these April 2007 messages Mr. Zechini discussed two concerns facing North Carolina Realtors. The first was the possibility that the legislature would enact safe slope regulations and the second was that prospective buyers would be forewarned of landslide risks. For more information about the Safe Artificial Slope Construction Act and the actions of the North Carolina Association of Realtors please see Mr. Bennett's article "Artificial Slopes." [url http://www.hrwc.net/watrcolumn073107.htm[/url]

Even though the North Carolina legislature and the Office of the Attorney General have declined to require fair warning for the sale of hazardous land, this does not absolve Realtors from the legal responsibility of disclosing the material fact that slope failures have and will continue to cause loss of life and significant uninsurable property damage.

About Carolina Concerns
Carolina Concerns is a Western North Carolina landslide advisory company

# # #