DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My son and his wife sent me information on the land they purchased last month. They hope to build a home on it and already have some money saved to help them achieve that goal in the next few years.
I admire their sound financial planning, but I looked into the area where they bought and it is in a development that sits in a 100 year floodplain. There are already several homes built on what will be their block, so clearly the builder has been able to get permits and pass inspections.
I do not want to discourage a young couple from working toward their dream, but as a parent I feel an obligation to say something to them about how I see it as they may be setting themselves up for trouble by building in an area known to flood.
Am I wrong in wanting to give them some advice? --- NOT THE PLACE TO BUILD
DEAR NOT THE PLACE TO BUILD: Hopefully your son and daughter-in-law did their own due diligence before buying the land for their future home and based their decision on what they were able to find out.
As a fellow parent, I know how hard it sometimes is to sit back and let things unfold for our kids, but beyond a brief mention to them that you understand the property is within a floodplain and listening to their response, I don’t believe there’s anything else you should do at this point.