Power Lines-ADVICE PLEASE!!!

I'm gonna echo T.F.'s recommendations. Go to a doctor and get your health checked. Your escalating panic over everything is tied into your health. As your hormones change your mind tends to race and there are health triggers. I had issues with joint and bone pain so bad it was waking me all night. No sleep + pain = a million gloom and doom thoughts. Believe it or not a simple multi vitamin coupled with fish oil and a calcium suppliment was all I needed to get back on track. Plus I had the peace of mind knowing that I wasn't going crazy. Go see a doctor.

I think you have more issues than just fear of the power lines.

Have you talked with your Dr? Get some hormones or something to help you. I have the hormone patch because I had a complete hysterectomy 9 yrs ago and I feel great. You can get help for those issues.

True... some people could care less about power lines.

For us.... we would not buy a home that had power lines showing because of the cosmetic factor alone... we just don't like power lines strewn through a neighborhood.

Never just walk away from your house. At least try to rent or something. Don't fall behind on payments. You set yourself up for financial fail for years to come if you do that.

Stop the panic... you are rehashing everything in your head and it will drive you nuts. GO seek some help to get you through this anxiousness, hormone issues and fear.

Best wishes.

Power lines were a deciding factor in our decision to buy a house. Hubby doesn't like the 'look' of them and I never liked the feel of them either. I did not/do not know about all the health risks associated with them, I just know that they have always made me uncomfortable! I do not like it at ALL that when you are around the big-mamo-jamos (like what it sounds like you have around you) you can physically feel a buzz in your body, that's just not cool.

I am sorry you are having to deal with this. I hope you are just going thru menopause :)

If it were my choice, I would look into renting it out first. You are absolutely correct that some people have NO problems with them what so ever.

I think I would first try your hand at renting it just to see if you can get any bites before waiting too long. Worst case scenario you don't sign a rental agreement, right? In the meantime see what information you can get from the county assessor's office about the land and what kind of permits were drawn to build on the land. See where they can direct you to talk to someone about the health hazards living so close. You can also go to your Governor's office if you don't get a response from the county assessor.
I hope you can find a solution, go with your gut.
Good luck to you.

I'd try and sell- then find a nice appartment to rent :)

Hmmm, renting your house out for at least your combined mortgage and taxes would be the best financial option (never ever 'let it go'), the market sucks. Sell it if you can take the loss, sounds like you can't. Do NOT get way behind in your house payments, then you will not have the options you have now.

(I'd also like to say, I'm 44, been having perimenopausal symptoms for 2 or three years, includes EVERYTHING you have mentioned here, and more. I wonder whether you have sought treatment? I live where the air is as healthy as possible, no power lines, no cell towers)

Best to you.

:)

Hello L.,

I would try to rent the house out at least until the market got better and then sell it. Try to get into a nice apartment or condo somewhere. For the health issues, I would definitely get checked out by a doctor and put your mind at ease. I would not sit and get further behind in house payments though as that will really hurt your credit and then you won't be able to do much at all when you go to buy your next home later, or anything else for that matter. Take some steps to get healthier by getting checked out and following the advice of your doctor of choice. I would think you would have to be exposed to power lines for a really long time to get any long term effects from it like anything you would read about on the internet and all. Calm down a little and think about getting better.

D. P.

Walking away from your house is YOUR choice an no one else's. Don't listen when people who are in a comfortable mortgage tell you "never just walk away." In Arizona, you are protected from lawsuits, etc. stemming from a foreclosure. The one and ONLY consequence of foreclosure is that your ability to buy a new home will be limited for several years. Your credit itself can recover rather quickly if you work hard at it.

You could attempt a short sale, which I would definitely recommend, but considering your health concerns I would not want to live there for the six months or so that it would take for a short sale to be accepted. Find a good short sale realtor and discuss your options. Then start saving your pennies and looking at rentals.

I would first check the sources that you got your research from. Is is a ligitimate source that has done conclusive studies over a long period of time? Becareful of the internet - anyone can post information. I found this link that you can read. They state in one of the paragraphs that there is no evidence to show a link between cancer and living close to powerlines: http://ww5.komen.org/Content.aspx?id=6442452855. If other studies turn out to be true, you truly believe the information, trying renting out your house and using the money to rent another house or apartment. Your health, family's health and sanity is worth it.

Since you are only one month behind on your mortgage, you can still save it from foreclosure. Talk with your mortgage company and make arrangements with them. If you are set on getting out of that house which it sounds like you are, because the housing market is not great right now your best bet would be to rent it out and go out and rent a house for your family to live in. When the housing market picks up, put the house on the market.

Steph C. is dead wrong that there are no legal consequences for walking away. I work for an attorney and we focus on real estate issues. If you walk away from a house that has been refinanced with a little extra money taken out, the mortgage company can and will sue you for the difference between your original mortgage amount ("purchase money") and the refinance amount. This is called the anti-deficiency law.

It sounds like you are absolutely miserable where you are. I lived in a home that I hated for a year, and eventually made myself sick over the stress of it all. I now rent my home and live elsewhere. Please get some legal advice from an attorney who is experienced in real estate matters before you make your choice. Good luck.