TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The Huggins family thought the two-story building on East Osborne Avenue in Tampa was their dream home. It was the perfect size for their young family in a neighborhood they liked, and with the Department of Veterans Affairs loan backed it was affordable.
“Our schedule was to get married, go on a honeymoon,” said Jonah Huggins, “come here and raise our family and everything would be perfect.”
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Huggins said he and his wife bought new furniture for their home and set everything up so they could just unpack their suitcases after their honeymoon.
But something else had moved in before they could.
“Schools of termites,” Huggins recalled.
That made no sense to the army veteran, who then checked the papers on the loan.
“The [WDO] Report said there were no termites. I would never have bought the house if I had known there were termites, ”said Huggins. “This entire process has let us down.”
To make matters worse, the pest infestation was only the first problem that Huggins claims was not disclosed by the sellers. Three months after the closure, the Huggins have still not moved into their furnished apartment.
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“Anger,” he said when asked how he felt after discovering the problems. “Somebody lied.”
Since 8 On Your Side began the investigation, Huggins has filed a lawsuit against the seller and his agent. The man who produced the Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) report that found there were no termites was also examined and fined by the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Check out the full story of Walt Buteau on News Channel 8 at 6 p.m. tonight.
