Did the duplex you're selling really only flood once?

[Richard Miller]

So I found a duplex I'm interested in but noticed sandbags laying around so I asked the realtor if the duplex had ever flooded she stated it did in 2016 during a once-in-a-lifetime rain. Because it's in a rural area I'm having trouble finding out if it has flooded in the past. Can anyone give me guidance on where to research if this has flooded more than once?

[Account Closed]

Talk to the neighbors.  Seriously.

I did rehab on a home that I noticed a water line in the crawl space.  I started talking to the neighbors.

One neighbor stated the house had flooded "at least three times" since he lived there.  He stated it was due to burst pipes.

Another neighbor pointed out to me that the city decided to upgrade it's storm sewer system...there are 16 inch pipes joined to 12 inch pipes at the end of the block (my house is 4 from the end).  The solution was to put in two large cisterns where the water could collect and receded naturally...which I found out caused the basement of house on the end of the block to collapse in on itself.  When I asked him if my house flooded he said no.

I started doing research and found a news photo of the flooding.

I bought flood insurance for the house...and will keep the policy up to date until the city fixes the issue (which I'm told is forthcoming).