In the 70’s Ralph Nader wrote a book about the Corvair called Unsafe at Any Speed. We made a podcast about homes with the same vibe (check it out below). You want to buy a house, but some homes are better to avoid. Here's a look at some you might want to steer clear of and why.

First are things that Sherry likes to describe as “incurable defects.” These are typically location specific such as the home backs to a freeway, near utility services, or sloped terrain. It might also include natural hazards such as earthquake faults, flood zones, historic land slides, and now, fire dangers.

Next, you should be aware of Homeowners Associations or HOAs. They are not necessarily bad, but homebuyers should fully investigate the financial health, governance and CC&R’s as they have controlling interests in the home which can affect its enjoyment.

The majority of negative attributes are less absolute as ultimately they can be fixed at a cost. So it's understanding what the cost-to-remedy of any particular defect is and maybe it's just too much to justify a purchase. Typically these are significant defects in the foundation or other structural components of a home. But it can also include floor plan attributes which are too expensive to rectify. Recently we saw a home that was on a concrete slab, but a portion of the slab stood up about 2 inches. The fix would have included jackhammering out a section of the foundation, then redoing the whole floor. While it was doable, the cost to remedy outweighed the list price of the home. 

So how can you avoid these dangers? First, hire a professional to walk with you on the home buying process. I know this sounds self-serving, and it is, but it might save you from making a big financial mistake. Sherry often says, some of our best work is when we talk clients OUT of buying a house. Next, thoroughly review seller disclosures, including the required Natural Hazard Disclosure report (NHD). Also, have sufficient inspections done to give you an adequate picture of the home. Just because you walked through the house and fell “in love” with it, doesn’t mean you should buy it. Start with general home and structural pest inspections. Then if desired, foundation, roof, chimney, etc. Only when you have a solid picture of the house will you know if it truly is the right house for you.

Our team has extensive experience working with buyers and we can help you navigate through the intricate process of buying a home, exploring all your options and determining the best path to move forward.