New guidelines from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development address “slight to moderate risk” for subterranean termites in the southern half of Minnesota.
Until recently, the risk of termite infestations in new Minnesota homes has been so slight that builders have been exempt from federal rules requiring inspections and treatment.
Buyers of unprotected homes will be unable to qualify for government-backed mortgages, so despite builder protests that termites are not an issue in Minnesota, they will have to comply with the code.
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