Although we went w/ a good mortgage co., not all house problems show up right away, and also not all of them show at all times of the year... so some can be honestly missed by the engineer even if he does a good job.  In my state you have 2 years from purchase date to sue, but b/c building codes here are next to non-existent, it has to be something REALLY major to sue over.  Our septic tank passed the flow test before we purchased the house in '04 (mortgage co. here requires certain tests, also b/c we used a VA loan, even more than usual were required), but we just found out that the leach field is kaput.  It's not leaching like it's supposed to - it's draining back into the septic tank and will eventually back up.  It's only a 1000 gal. tank and the pumping/thawing guy suctioned 1500 gals. out of it the other day, just b/c 500 extra gals. ran back from the leachfield in the 20 min. or so he was here.  It was still doing it when he stopped, and he said there was really no other option but to have the whole thing redone.  We're going to try to hold out till spring b/c to do it now (it's been below 0 degrees F lately) would be terribly expensive - even if we have to pump it again in Jan or Feb.  To replace the leach field is between $4,000 and $10,000 dep. on size and the system setup.  Ugh.  If the house was 100 yrs. old, or even 20, I'd understand.  But it's 4 flipping years old!!!!!!  Do you know how mad I am at the builder!?!?!?  It's an issue - I have to constantly let go of it or it will eat me alive.  There's nothing I can do but just  .  As if the moisture issue, air leaks, faulty garage doors, ice coming through electrical plug sockets, warped floors, no gutters, bad soil, etc etc etc wasn't enough.  Phooey.  I'm just having a pity-party here aren't I.  I have to get my mind off it.  I do feel your pain there Sassy, wish we were all closer so we could help!  Just look w/ your imagination and not your eyes !  That's what I do!  We're actually hoping to possibly start building something on our own in a few years as house prices drop and it becomes more affordable to do so.  I'd soak those floors w/ some kind of pet-odor neutralizer before ripping them out, btw.  Hope all is going well!