My Property Info
By Wendy Schumacher
Prior to relocating to Washington in 2007, I had to sell my home in Fort Collins, Colorado. The biggest challenge to marketing the property wasn’t the original1962 kitchen cabinets or the three feet of snow covering the beautiful drought tolerant garden, it was determining if radon was present and, if so, if the level was above acceptable limits.
In many states, sales contracts require that people selling property certify if the property is located in a flood plain or free from a variety of environmental hazards ranging from radon to lead paint. On the other hand, today’s buyers and their lenders want to know more. In fact, a large number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted to EPA ask for records about a single property someone is considering buying or financing or because some states require certification that EPA does not have any information on the property. The FOIA process gives federal agencies 20 working days to respond. For this type of request, most of the time EPA does not have any record of the requestor’s potential new home or small business. That’s always good news!
To reduce the amount of time for requestors to obtain a response from days to minutes, on June 25, 2010, EPA released a web-based tool where it will be possible to search EPA’s databases for environmental information by an individual address and print it in a single report. The tool is called MyPropertyInfo.
The tool’s primary audience is expected to be real estate agents, mortgage banks and engineering and environmental consulting firms. That said, everyone around the office who has helped with testing this new tool has looked up their own and their Mom’s address, too.
Wouldn’t MyPropertyInfo have been useful during my time as the FOIA Officer in EPA’s Regional Office in Chicago! I’ll never forget being seated at a formal dinner next to a real estate attorney who wanted to know the status of his client’s proposed purchase of a former gas station before we even finished our salads.
About the author: Wendy Schumacher is on detail to the National FOIA Office from the Office of Water. Between assignments in EPA Region 5 and Headquarters, she spent six years with the National Park Service’s Natural Resource Program Center in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Don Webb
Sep 01, 2010 @ 12:09:20
Knowledge is the key to maximizing the land ownership experience, both for current and prospective land owners. Unfortunately, the information that supports acquiring knowledge is often hard to find and filter through. Online tools like this are a great resource.
Jerry Morgan
Sep 05, 2010 @ 14:36:29
“In many states, sales contracts require that people selling property certify if the property is located in a flood plain or free from a variety of environmental hazards ranging from radon to lead paint.”
True in California as well we have a lot of issues in Los Osos regarding the Snowy Plover and due to its endangered species level meanys people haven’t been able to sell there homes. I know this isn’t exactly radon or lead paint but it is a serious issue in the environmental vs. construction rights concept. .
Michael E. Bailey
Sep 05, 2010 @ 20:13:28
This tool will be a huge help to buyers and sellers of real estate. It is something that has been a long time in coming and now that it has, it will be used alot as word gets out that EPA has it. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.
Buy Home Or Sell Home
Oct 28, 2010 @ 23:43:55
This tool will be extremely useful to both buyers and sellers of real estate. It will be of great use as word gets around that EPA has it.
Best of luck
Keala Kanae
Sep 24, 2010 @ 07:10:19
This will also be helpful for another important niche… Real Estate Investors such as myself. With foreclosures on the rise and property prices at all time lows, those with the proper Investment training have found an opportune time to enter the market these last few years, especially those Investors specializing in no money/ no credit type deals. Because time is of the essence in nearly every investment situation, I am happy that the EPA is providing this tool.
James
Nov 12, 2010 @ 01:06:13
Truthfully speaking, I do think that one solution to helping the economy is through real estate. Yeah, foreclosures should go down so that more people can afford. And that the qualifying process should not be very strict. Yeah, this tool is very helpful indeed.
Thailand Real Estate
Nov 12, 2010 @ 03:52:32
Someone who clearly knows their subject, it’s great to not be led around the information world on a goose chase, informative and very reliable. Internet power is well and truly with you brother. Thanks for these posts and more
Real Estate MLS
Mar 25, 2011 @ 06:25:54
It can be both extremely difficult and expensive to obtain flood insurance, so this too is a topic that needs consideration when purchasing a property.
myrealestatetools.com
Jun 04, 2011 @ 19:36:58
If you are to avail this tool EPA would be much happier because its gonna be a big help.
Cairns Real Estate for Sale
Aug 20, 2011 @ 05:33:39
Having an own property is great. But you should be wise on choosing and investing a property. It help’s a lot to be a wise person.
city cash loans
Sep 19, 2011 @ 09:20:09
The tool’s primary audience is expected to be real estate agents, mortgage banks and engineering and environmental consulting firms.
San Diego Real Estate
Jan 02, 2012 @ 13:20:14
I think that EPA is so important in this environment because of the risk of selling to peolpe without disclosing proper paperwork.
Desmund
May 24, 2012 @ 01:38:50
You might want to refer from real estate properties experts.
Aubrey
Jun 13, 2012 @ 17:57:11
Custom made kitchen cabinets that stand the test of Time.
Veenita
Feb 26, 2013 @ 06:26:29
Really this information is really useful for real estate for buying and selling property. Real estate is good source for investment. Many people invested in real estate this information is very helpful for investment. Thank you sharing such nice information.
DC Home Buyers
Jul 04, 2013 @ 01:10:26
What would be nice is if the EPA would be more active in providing tools or information to home owners who are doing renovations about the materials they are using. It seems California is always 10 steps ahead of the EPA – should be that way.
CG
Jahangir Alam
Apr 10, 2014 @ 02:04:36
Real Estate business is now a top label business in the world and perfect for investment.I think this is a good information for those people who want to invest in this sector.This will also helpful for a buyer.
Jahangir Alam
Apr 10, 2014 @ 02:13:15
I will be beneficial by this information.I am a real estate business man in singapore.This information will help me to take a good decision.
Shweta Bist
Mar 19, 2016 @ 07:06:56
Its very important to know all the information before buying a new home first time.
Pat Filippelli
Nov 08, 2016 @ 14:41:55
Thanks for the detail explanation on the My Property Info tool. Thanks for the very helpful article.
hyderabad real estate
Nov 09, 2016 @ 03:38:26
Nice information
خرید اپل آیدی
Dec 29, 2016 @ 04:50:29
“Thanks for compiling this Data Finder
خرید اپل آیدی
Dec 29, 2016 @ 04:51:40
Thanks for compiling this Data Finder