Good things to do when buying a house

[PugnacAutMortem]

Test for meth. My first house under contract owned by state patrol dude came back quite hot. Was a foreclosure before him. Saved me, though feel bad for him.

Would it be reasonable to assume that if there was meth activity in a house that there would be a police record of it at some point?

[MarkCO]

Would it be reasonable to assume that if there was meth activity in a house that there would be a police record of it at some point?

No it would not.

[waxthis]

I use to see rotten neighbors when the site was up.

What I see most besides house inspections:

1. Immediate neighbors. Kids, teens, Pets, yard, home, etc
2. At least 0.5-0.75 mile away from railroad track.
3. At least 150-200yd away from school.
4. At least 40yd away from 40mph roads. (50yd for 50mph, and on)
5. I try not to not buy a house next to houses with Pool/Jacuzzi. It gets loud during late night summer.
6. Away from Golf course. mosquito.

"2. At least 0.5-0.75 mile away from railroad track."

LOL...Tell Jim that.....

[fitz19d]

Would it be reasonable to assume that if there was meth activity in a house that there would be a police record of it at some point?

No, because thousands upon thousands of people cook/smoke and arn't caught. Even if arrested wont neccesarily show the house if they are caught elsewhere. Looking at any police records for the address/neighborhood isn't a terrible idea for other problems.

There's a complete eval that's like 2k, but they have quick rapid screen type stuff that's a couple hundred ish. Take swabs from some typical areas. (Vents in bathrooms, around/in the furnace/ducting). My house was .3 in most areas. (State limit .5, most other states .1), furnace came back 2.8.... While that is low enough that likely wouldnt cause any issues, it does mean that lenders won't touch it, very difficult to resell without extremely expensive remediation.

The owner on mine last I heard was letting it foreclose over try and put 30k into cleaning then sell for big loss.

[Great-Kazoo]

"2. At least 0.5-0.75 mile away from railroad track."

LOL...Tell Jim that.....

for what we paid [less then most people put as a down stroke] it was worth it till the big boys started running 24/7

[crashdown]

Wow... You do all the stuff listed here and you might never buy a place.
Might be best to go knock on some doors of your future next door neighbors and ask them how the neighborhood is.... They will give you the good and bad, and any history they know about the house.
You obviously will get a feel for the people living around you by doing so.

[KevDen2005]

I learned the hard way...have a camera ran down the sewer. Because of my horrible experience it already saved another close friend from a horrible experience.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Value. The rest mentioned above can be offsetted by value.