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- This topic has 10 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 7 months ago by birmingplumb.
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July 27, 2012 at 7:40 AM #20016July 27, 2012 at 8:08 AM #749021barnaby33Participant
Like anyone is going to let you take a drill to their house before you buy.
July 27, 2012 at 8:19 AM #749022bearishgurlParticipant#1 My Dad (toured Italy WW2 ) “Rome was built on a hill” obviously my brother-in-law did not get this tip, he bought at the bottom of a hill, had a high water table, flooded and sump ran continuous, also found plumbing customer in “hole” i.e. lakefront, near lake, ect (hole where water drains to) mad I couldn’t get his sump to stop pumping.I have 2 walkout basements , both high,dry and no sump pumps.
LOL, birmingplumb. . . You had a very smart dad! Unfortunately, in SD County, we have areas even on higher ground where a sump pump (used after big rains) is often needed. The don’t call it “Spring St” for nothin’ :=0
sd_matt, are you listening?
#2 Never buy next to undeveloped vacant land unless you want to fight city hall when a sewage disposal plant gets put in next door or a prison.
OR if the 2-3 AC vacant lot across the st has a ditch running thru it, it might be a path for illegals to take at night or an “adopted” law-enforcement helopad. But more often than not, if one buys on the edge of town in CA, they can likely expect to see dozens or even hundreds of new roofs on adjacent vacant land during the period of their ownership.
#3. “Honey stop the car, this might be the place” seen in many ads. Plumber finishes this with-“now turn off the motor, roll down the windows and listen for road noise that stops my quiet Sunday afternoon naps in hammock between those 2 pines.”
The 5, the 15 & 805 considered, good luck with this one, but noise carries double to a hilltop as opposed valley elevation-try a hill for noise.Absolutely, unequivocally agree. Buyers need to visit these properties during the height of rush hr (am AND pm) and stand in the FY, middle of house, next to fwy-facing windows and BY to get the full effect of what it would be like to live there (or keep a tenant in there).
#4. Visit property during thunderstorm. (Laguna Beach). Look at “lakes” created due to no perk.
The most desirable part of this area is at or close to sea level. Many 1930’s-era developed lots there have shored-up land with a set of stairs leading to the beach but there is really nothing anyone can do about this (correct me if I’m wrong here, birmingplumb). This anomaly will not affect property values there because there is no other place in the US to compare to this “exclusive” enclave.
#5. In city, look at storm sewer covers in street. If there a only a few holes, sewer undersized and can’t take full opening of rainwater, so city slowed intake. You will get water over curb.
Yes, you do. I note this happens regularly on some of the sunken sidewalks in dtn SD in spite of originally having a deep curb there with wide access to the storm drain.
#6. Check basement steel poles for rust along bottom, shows flooding basement.
Interesting and will save for future reference. SD County residences do not have basements.
#7. Got this from truck driver when concerned about too much shade and roof not drying out and rotting. “It ain’t the roof, its the bottom of the floor in the crawl space. Take a drill and drill the wood floor from the crawl, that,s the path the water vapor takes-ground up-it shows there first, then roof.
Great idea! Thanks for the tip!
#8. The inside can be redone for 30k so why look.(How they buy with no inspection)
Trust me I have redone the whole 1200 sf “wife’s old house” and turned it into a rental and have not had a issue in 12 years. New roof,windows,kit,floors,copper,electrical,inside doors.Good for YOU, birmingplumb! I agree that a “professional inspection” in escrow is not always needed and likely a waste of money if the buyer knows exactly what they are looking at. If waiving an inspection contingency will put a buyer’s offer into the realm of consideration (in a multiple-offer situation) then I believe it is prudent to waive it, ESP if the new buyer will replace nearly everything as you did.
9.# Ask the postman who live across the street.(Thanks Dad)
Of course. Or the local resident-cop. Or little old lady daily walker who has lived there for 40+ yrs!
July 27, 2012 at 9:02 AM #749031bearishgurlParticipant10. Before you sign that mortgage (trust deed and note in CA), wear your thinking cap and have a large magnifying glass at the ready. Scour the terms of the trust deed and note and ask as many questions as possible. Do not worry about the time. It is also prudent to have a very knowledgeable friend or relative (CPA?) or attorney chained to your ankle or even take your docs in advance of closing to one for your unanswered questions. If you do this, bring these same docs to closing and compare them word-for-word to the docs you are asked to sign.
Don’t expect your escrow officer or anyone else present at closing who stands to make a commission from your sale to give you straight answers to your questions.
Do not pass go or collect $200 (or the keys) until you understand EVERYTHING that you are signing!
Note: A move is underway in the CA DRE to reinstate its Code of Ethics (under the CA Business and Professions Code), repealed in 1996.
This would go a long way towards hammering it into licensees that they could be in violation of the law for failure to disclose to client-buyers all pertinent facts known about a property or mortgage. But there were so many bad apples and/or ignoramuses licensed after the law’s repeal that it could be awhile before they let their licenses expire because they feel its too hard for them to conduct biz in such a “transparent” environment.
July 27, 2012 at 9:31 AM #749037birmingplumbParticipantLike anyone is going to let you take a drill to their house before you buy.
Hand drill, pocket knife, corkscrew….you don’t tell them, but if the wood is soft it is rotted
July 27, 2012 at 10:42 AM #749049sdduuuudeParticipantI’m less concerned about all that moisture stuff in San Diego. Drainage is important, but we not only have 1/3 the rain, but we have 100 extra days of drying time.
I appreciate your list, though. Very useful. Thanks.
Detroit
Days of Rain per year: 135
Inches of Rain per Year: 33.5San Diego
Days of Rain per year: 42
Inches of Rain per Year: 10.3July 27, 2012 at 10:45 AM #749050sdduuuudeParticipantFor a rental property, I’m not convinced that road noise is a big factor. It means you can get it for a lower price. Renters aren’t going to stress over the road noise as much as owner-occ buyers because they will not be expecting to live there forever. So I think it depresses the purchase price more than the rent.
July 27, 2012 at 11:04 AM #749051sdrealtorParticipantThe issue is turnover not rent. A nicer, quieter location is more likely to result in long term tenants and less churn.
July 27, 2012 at 12:42 PM #749056sdduuuudeParticipantI have a freeway view rental. Turnover is not an issue. Tenants have only moved out due to marriage, moving out of town or because they bought a place of their own.
July 27, 2012 at 12:44 PM #749057briansd1Guestbirmingplumb, do you live in San Diego, or Detroit?
I recently saw a show Detroit and the arts scene over there. Would buying downtown be better appreciation potential?
July 27, 2012 at 3:44 PM #749072birmingplumbParticipantMarried daughter and oldest son in San Diego (1 year) and living where Bearishgurl recommended (92117 and 41st/University. Owe a lot to this forum. May retire or semi retire there. Got c-36 plumbing contractor license just in case “Laguna Beach Mechanical” is name if I do.
I know downtown Detroit like the back of my hand and can tell you Birmingham, Birmingham, Birmingham. Old money was on the water close to town (Grosse Points)from 1900 to 1990
Then in the 50’s it was Birmingham-still is. New “best area” Oakland Township-30 miles north of Downtown and just north of Rochester. Downtown started a “warehouse district” 7 yrs ago before the bubble. Politicians and power czars were buying up Detroit riverfront property hoping for a killing. All went bust. Crime is still issue and Detroit is laying off police and using state money to police city. My wife commented while visiting kids in San Diego last year, which answers the question you ask. While driving to eat downtown and seeing all the people at night,she said “It is so beautiful to be in a vibrant alive downtown for a change” So no, not yet, maybe in 20 years.(I work downtown at Chrysler Jefferson, the only car left “made in Detroit”) -
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