KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kris Taylor and her family fell in love with a home at Lake Perry, Kan. It seemed ideal.

KMBC's Jim Flink reported that the seller's disclosure indicated a few problems, except one -- a plumbing leak. The inspector suggested minor repairs such as fixing some damaged siding. He also noted evidence of stains and dampness in the basement, calling the problems typical.

The Taylor's paid full price -- $74,000.

"We wanted something cheaper to fix up how we wanted. It was perfect," said Kris Taylor.

Weeks later, during the first rainfall, water began to seep in through the windows and under the walls.

"It comes in between the walls and then pools up down below," Taylor said.

Windows fogged up. Within weeks, the entire family began to feel sick.

"My daughter developed a persistent cough, usually at night, and this was a normal, healthy 8-year-old," Taylor said. "My husband caught pneumonia. He had chronic bronchitis. I actually got a sinus infection."

The Taylors' doctor told them they were suffering a reaction to mold. That is when the family called in Glenn Beckingham, an expert in mold remediation.

"Upon pulling into the driveway, my first thought was, water had made its way into this home," Beckingham said.

Within minutes of walking inside, Beckingham knew the Taylors had a problem. There was mold in the walls, the ceilings and in the vents.

Flink: "Is it unusual to have it at that level?"

Beckingham: "Oh, yes."

Beckingham ordered a second visit and comprehensive tests. When those scores came back, the numbers were off the charts, Flink reported.

Flink: "Is this the worst case you've ever seen?"

Beckingham: "I would say it's definitely in the top five."

Flink reported that the tests showed extremely high levels of three different kinds of mold, starting at the foot of the family's staircase and covering nearly half the house. It is consistent with long-term water problems and not the average indoor mold, he said.

"And you can find it on decaying rotting animals and stuff like that," Taylor said.

To determine the potential effects, Flink asked one of Kansas City's leading mold experts to interpret the numbers.

"This is a higher count than I normally see," said Dr. Jay Portnoy of Children's Mercy Hospital.

Portnoy said continual exposure to mold can result in everything from allergic reactions and irritation, which are common, to infection and toxicity, which are not common.

"I would say that's a sign this is a very unhealthy building, one that would cause serious respiratory problems," Portnoy said.

Portnoy's colleague, Dr. Charles Barnes, put it this way.

"I have never seen any human being voluntarily stay in a house that has more than 100,000 spores per cubic meter," Barnes said.

Sick, tired and broke, Taylor began to contact the people behind the sale, demanding answers.

Flink reported that the real estate agents, Earl Strickell and Dennis Sheets of Century 21 in Lawrence, Kan., wrote back to Taylor saying, "They never saw any problems."

Sheets wrote, "My responsibility as a listing agent it to notify potential buyers of any defects known to me. I believe I did this."

Strickell wrote, "In walking through this home, I did not see any signs of mold or windows that leaked water and I was in the home several times."

Inspector Clyde Yost's pre-inspection agreement read, "The client may wish to obtain other types of inspections, such as mold, air quality or environmental inspections."

Flink said that even though Yost's Web site has extensive mention of mold problems, Yost made no mention of it.

"First of all, it is an immediate concern," master inspector Steve Hodgden said.

Hodgden looked at KMBC's video and at the records filed, including video of the hallway where mold counts were high.

"That is visual evidence of moisture intrusion that is ongoing," Hodgden said. "Someone should have come to that house for this moisture problem."

But the inspector's attorney wrote the Taylors claiming the inspection was only a roof, foundation and mechanical inspection and did not address the conditions of windows, doors, walks and drives. The attorney also wrote, "Mr. Yost does not have insurance and any attempts to find a deep pocket have failed."

"I find that insulting," Taylor said.

Taylor said this is not about greed, but it is about the truth. She just wants to know where to turn for help.

"I don't have a good answer. I really don't," Hodgden said.

"The inspector can walk into the house with his eyes closed, write up an inspection form, and it protects him and not me," Taylor said.

"If it's found that the inspection is inaccurate, there really isn't much recourse," Hodgden said.

Flink reported that is because every contract the Taylors signed protected the other party and not them. As for the seller's disclosure form, the real estate agent told Flink that there is no law that says the seller has to disclose anything. He admitted mistakes were made by somebody, but said it was wrong for the Taylors to assume anyone was representing them.

As for the home, mold experts are suggesting they tear out the inside of their home down to the studs. The family is now facing foreclosure and to date, no one -- including the real estate agent, inspector, insurance companies or the government -- is willing to step up and help out.