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section will provide you with resources for your home after a natural disaster.
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| 1. | Housing
assistance: If your home has been completely
demolished, you can apply for long term housing with FEMA. This will let you to
live rent free for a fixed period of time. | | 2. | Mortgage
Payments: Most
mortgage companies have offered hurricane victims relief on their mortgage payments.
They're extending grace periods -- up to 90 days to make a payment and postponing
foreclosure actions for any borrowers living within zip codes identified by FEMA
as part of the federal disaster area. Borrowers there will not be charged late
fees and late payments will not be reported to credit agencies, preserving the
credit ratings of victims.
Homeowners are urged to contact the lender to
whom they make monthly payments, which can be different from their original mortgage
banker, who may have transferred account to other financial institutions. | | 3. | Property
Tax Payments: To see if special arrangements
for your tax payments can be made, visit the Lake
County Florida Property Tax website for more information. | | 4. | Insurance
Claims: If you disagree with your insurer
about the extent of your loss, you have several options. Consider hiring an independent
adjuster who will be able to supply you with some ammunition. The
National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters website can provide more
information about your claims adjuster.
You can also invoke the appraisal
clause in your policy that allows both you and your insurer to name an appraiser
who then agree on a third appraiser to evaluate your claim. Take your case to
your state's insurance department, which will often cajole insurers to up their
offers.
Even if you've already received a check from the insurance company,
you shouldn't assume that it's the final settlement offer. If you never had a
chance to survey the damage before filing, or you've forgotten to include an item,
call your insurance company and reopen your claim. | | 5. | Severely
Damaged Home: Recent home buyers paying
hefty mortgages may be tempted to abandon severely damaged properties, figuring
they are not worth what they owe. In most instances that would be a mistake. If
you walk away from your mortgage it will severely affect your credit. | | 6. | Change
of Address: A big problem evacuees face
is access to their mail. They can obtain a change of address form at any post
office and arrange to have their mail forwarded. Evacuees can also find more information
on the U.S. Postal Service website
or call at 1-800/275-8777. |
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