07-21-2026, 05:44 PM
It's been a while since I have purchased a house, but there should be a clause in the contract regarding the owners disclosure and specifically addressing any failure of the owner to disclose a known material fact, and what your remedies for that are.
You no doubt have an "out" so you could bolt as has been suggested. If there is a mortgage involved, it is unlikely that a loan will fund until the issue is resolved so that is another sort of "out".
Assuming that you really really want the house, you could remind any agent involved that this problem makes the property much less appealing in the marketplace and then begin to renegotiate.
If there is a mortgage involved then they need to resolve the issues on their dime and compensate you, via price reductions, repair allowance, or otherwise, for the damage caused by the delay, uncertainty, their failure to report the issue, etc. This will no doubt push back your closing date and cause some problems that only money can fix.
If there is no mortgage involved, and you are comfortable with closing on the property and then resolving the septic issues yourself, then you could renegotiate a purchase at a lower price. Just be sure to not end up "holding the bag". Dropping the price by double the cost of a new septic system (installed, connected, and approved) might be a reasonable place to end up.
As has been mentioned by other posters, your agent should be giving you good support on how to navigate this. If not, ask for a sit down with their broker to review the situation and the available options.
You no doubt have an "out" so you could bolt as has been suggested. If there is a mortgage involved, it is unlikely that a loan will fund until the issue is resolved so that is another sort of "out".
Assuming that you really really want the house, you could remind any agent involved that this problem makes the property much less appealing in the marketplace and then begin to renegotiate.
If there is a mortgage involved then they need to resolve the issues on their dime and compensate you, via price reductions, repair allowance, or otherwise, for the damage caused by the delay, uncertainty, their failure to report the issue, etc. This will no doubt push back your closing date and cause some problems that only money can fix.
If there is no mortgage involved, and you are comfortable with closing on the property and then resolving the septic issues yourself, then you could renegotiate a purchase at a lower price. Just be sure to not end up "holding the bag". Dropping the price by double the cost of a new septic system (installed, connected, and approved) might be a reasonable place to end up.
As has been mentioned by other posters, your agent should be giving you good support on how to navigate this. If not, ask for a sit down with their broker to review the situation and the available options.