Rebuild Fort Myers Beach
A complementary guide to help FMB rebuild after Hurricane Ian 2022
#FMBSTRONG
Rebuild Fort Myers Beach
A complementary guide to help FMB rebuild after Hurricane Ian 2022
#FMBSTRONG
A complementary guide to help FMB rebuild after Hurricane Ian 2022
#FMBSTRONG
A complementary guide to help FMB rebuild after Hurricane Ian 2022
#FMBSTRONG
Host Kathryn Goetzke sits down with Kristi Kandel, Founder of Local Real Estate Developers, for an insightful conversation on resilience, hope and recovery in the wake of natural disasters.
Drawing from her personal experiences with Hurricane Ian and wildfires, Kristi sheds light on the emotional toll these events take on communities and emphasizes the vital role of local support.
Many lenders offer disaster relief programs, including temporary payment pauses or loan modifications. Be proactive—contact your lender to ask about available options.
Mortgage Forbearance can help in the short term, but be cautious. Once it ends (usually after 12 months), missed payments could result in significant credit impacts, even if you’re in the middle of a loan modification process.
If your property has been severely damaged or destroyed, you may be entitled to a reassessment and possible refund on property taxes. Contact your local tax office for details.
Even with full coverage, insurance rarely makes property owners whole. Be prepared for a long process, as payouts, FEMA, and SBA assistance often take months or years.
Homeowners affected by the wildfires may be eligible for SBA disaster loans to help secure a new primary residence while rebuilding.
Rebuilding involves multiple steps: working with architects, pulling permits, securing construction loans, and hiring contractors. Even under ideal conditions, the process can take at least 2 years. In California, a safe assumption is 3-5 years.
One of the biggest obstacles in rebuilding is the time it takes to secure permits and restore utilities. Local officials may consider waiving permit fees and expediting new service requests to speed up recovery efforts.
Recent updates to California’s zoning laws allow for greater density or the addition of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) on single-family lots. Homeowners may want to explore these options, to help mitigate their financial impact.
In cases where insurance falls short, homeowners will need to secure construction loans to rebuild.
Many homeowners will find that insurance payouts fall short of what’s needed to fully rebuild, especially when rebuilding to current codes. It’s also important to understand that insurance typically covers the structure only, not the value of the land.
Here are examples from FL of how insurance shortfalls can impact homeowners:
Example 1: A property purchased for $1.4M with a mortgage of $1.1M. Insurance covers up to $650K for the structure. After a full insurance payout, there is still a $450K shortfall owed to the mortgage lender.
Example 2: (same numbers as above) In cases where flooding caused destruction, coverage is capped even lower. For example, flood policies max out at $250K in FL, leaving a homeowner with a $1.075M shortfall on the mortgage.
Engaging experienced and reliable builders, architects, contractors, and surveyors is essential for a safe, efficient, and successful rebuilding process.
Many lenders offer disaster relief options like payment pauses or loan modifications. But you have to ask proactively, and be mindful of how long you stay in forbearance to avoid long-term credit issues.
If your property is severely damaged, you may qualify for reassessment and potential tax refunds. It’s worth reaching out to your local tax office to explore options. These small wins add up when you’re trying to rebuild.
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