Special offer
Donna Flaherty (Douglas Elliman Realty)

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Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

This one would be a tough sell in our area.  I've never had to deal with a oil tank situation.

Jul 28, 2015 12:18 AM
Rainmaker
115,432
Jeanne Feenick
NextHome Premier - Basking Ridge, NJ
The Agent you choose REALLY does make a difference

Whether the lender will allow or not, I would caution my buyer to keep this on the seller side.  We use attorneys for the closing process and if I let it slip by, I'm quite sure the attorney would do the same.  Unless the buyer has specific experience with oil tanks below ground, I think the risk too great.

Jul 28, 2015 10:35 PM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Yes, lenders will approve. Is the tank in use? If not, there could be a problem with FHA, but houses around here sell with underground oil and propane tanks all the time. Either buyer or seller could test soil around tank to se if tank has been leaking which would be a different story, becasue it could contaminate nearby creeks or wells. if the buyer doesn't like oil heat, then buyers can swith to electric, gas, or propane after they buy the property. If seller has oil furnace, then it makes no sense to remove the oil tank.

Jul 28, 2015 01:45 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,139
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

There are certainly lenders who will finance properties with underground oil tanks.  Oil heat is still common in many older homes.

Jul 27, 2015 11:29 PM
Rainer
5,180
Donna Flaherty
Douglas Elliman Realty - Islip, NY

Jack, no, the oil is the heating fuel currently in use for this home.

Jul 27, 2015 11:04 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I haven't had lenders make an issue of it, but I've heard of insurance companies refuse to insure, which could make it a lending issue.

Jul 27, 2015 10:58 PM
Rainmaker
292,685
Jack Lewitz
Exit Strategy Realty - Evanston, IL

I am assuming this house has updated its heat source to some other system?

do you have an estimate of the cost to remove if this is the only source  of heat then I can see why the seller does not want to remove . It seems you are asking two things to occur remove and replace with alternative heating system and tgat can be expensive. 

Jul 27, 2015 10:54 PM