What Kind of House Should You Avoid? These “House Selection Taboos” Can Help You Avoid Pitfalls!
- Marketing Alpha
- May 1
- 3 min read
Buying a home in the Bay Area isn't just about choosing a beautiful house; it's about making a shrewd investment. In this high-priced, competitive market, some properties carry hidden risks that could affect your future living experience and appreciation potential.
Here are some real estate purchase taboos that Axis Team has compiled that you absolutely cannot ignore, to help you avoid pitfalls and protect your investment.
01: Houses close to schools/commercial areas/fire stations/hospitals There is no need to elaborate on these. Although they seem to be convenient for life, they actually bring noise from time to time!
If you live near a school, you might even be stuck in traffic during rush hour and unable to leave the house!
Long-term exposure to this kind of noise not only affects the quality of life, but may also pose a hidden danger to physical health. Even if the price is attractive, you should stay away from these areas.
02: Houses close to highways/airports/train tracks Houses near airports/trains/highways/main roads are also generally avoided by everyone, as these places are usually accompanied by air quality risks and noise pollution.
Long-term noise pollution may have a serious impact on the living environment. For example, the roar of airplanes taking off and landing, the noise of high-speed vehicles or horns at night will interfere with daily life, especially the rest of the elderly and children.
03: Houses located in high-risk areas for natural disasters How to check high risk of natural disasters:
1. Go to myhazards.caloes.ca.gov and search for the address.
2. Check the Natural Hazard Disclosure in the Disclosure
If your house is located in an earthquake zone/flood zone/wildfire zone, you can avoid losses by purchasing home insurance.
04: The house next to the shelter The negative impact of homeless shelters is enormous. Not only are those living in shelters low-income or without income, but some even have mental health issues or are drug addicts. This creates noise and safety concerns for residents living nearby.
This also explains why housing prices are lower near shelters. A New York Times analysis found that homes within 500 feet of an adult shelter are estimated to sell for 7% less than homes between 500 and 1,000 feet.
It's important to note that these types of shelters aren't referred to directly as "homeless shelters ," but rather as various nonprofit projects or government-funded programs. This makes it difficult to find comprehensive information online. For example, well-known organizations like HomeKey and HomeFirst, as well as LifeMoves and Abode Service, may actually be operating shelter facilities.
In summary, Axis Realty recommends that everyone, whether looking for a home for personal use or investment, carefully observe the surroundings when viewing a property and avoid shelters. Additionally, be aware of any plans for new shelters in the county.
05: Houses at Superfund Sites Superfund sites are lands severely contaminated and require government cleanup and remediation. Not only are these sites environmentally hazardous, but purchasing them could also lead to mandatory cleanup costs and other legal issues. Avoiding such properties is crucial.
The most authoritative website for Superfund inquiries is EPA.GOV
(https://www.epa.gov/superfund/search-superfund-sites-where-you-live). After entering the website, you can directly search according to the zip code. If you find a site, you can pay special attention to Cleanup Acitvities. If there is one, it means that the land has been treated and the problem is not too serious.
06: Houses in areas with severe odors The Bay Area's most notorious landfill is near Milpitas . While it boasts excellent schools, a wide selection of Chinese restaurants, and a welcoming community, the stench there is particularly noticeable in the summer. This is due to the infamous Newby Island landfill, which accounts for 94% of odor complaints in the Bay Area.
There has been no plan to relocate the landfill in the last 20 years, so if you want to buy a house nearby, you must be extremely cautious!
Buying a home in the Bay Area is a challenge, but by avoiding these problem areas and undesirable locations, you can greatly reduce the risk of buying a home and ensure the safety of your residence or investment.
If you still have some other troublesome questions about the house, you can add Axis Assistant (scan the QR code below) and consult us at any time~
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