Comments on: The Ultimate Home Buyers Guide. 6 Critical Sites for Researching Your Next Home. http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/the-ultimate-home-buyers-guide-6-critical-sites-for-researching-your-next-home/ How I Learned to Love Southern California and Forget the Housing Bubble Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:55:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: distraughtformermethlabbuyer http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/the-ultimate-home-buyers-guide-6-critical-sites-for-researching-your-next-home/comment-page-1/#comment-4714 distraughtformermethlabbuyer Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:53:57 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/?p=66#comment-4714 You forgot to tell people to check with local law enforcement first to see if their prospective home (to buy or rent-in all neighborhoods) was ever a former meth lab. Then check with neighbors as DEA says they only bust 5-10% of the labs. Apparently despite the fact that they have been busting meth labs since the mid 1970's and they leave a nightmare of toxic residue behind, local and state government-public health, EPA, law enforcement, and realtors have done little to educate the public about the costly problem. They also have done NOTHING to ensure that the majority of these properties will not be sold/rented until they are cleaned up (they seldom check soil-got pets? kids? like to garden?). Meth labs that are busted from 2006 (in California) forward are tested, red-tagged and a lien put on the property owner so it comes up in a title search. This was seldom the case with labs busted prior to 2006. Testing can run $3-5K and will only be accurate if they hit the "hot spots"-they only test a 1' square sample of each wall, not always checking every room. If property is "certified clean" no disclosure is needed. Clean-up runs $10-$150K. And if you get stuck with one of these toxic properties you're on your own and need $5K-$10K for an attorney. You forgot to tell people to check with local law enforcement first to see if their prospective home (to buy or rent-in all neighborhoods) was ever a former meth lab. Then check with neighbors as DEA says they only bust 5-10% of the labs. Apparently despite the fact that they have been busting meth labs since the mid 1970’s and they leave a nightmare of toxic residue behind, local and state government-public health, EPA, law enforcement, and realtors have done little to educate the public about the costly problem. They also have done NOTHING to ensure that the majority of these properties will not be sold/rented until they are cleaned up (they seldom check soil-got pets? kids? like to garden?). Meth labs that are busted from 2006 (in California) forward are tested, red-tagged and a lien put on the property owner so it comes up in a title search. This was seldom the case with labs busted prior to 2006. Testing can run $3-5K and will only be accurate if they hit the “hot spots”-they only test a 1′ square sample of each wall, not always checking every room. If property is “certified clean” no disclosure is needed. Clean-up runs $10-$150K. And if you get stuck with one of these toxic properties you’re on your own and need $5K-$10K for an attorney.

]]> By: DjangoFan http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/the-ultimate-home-buyers-guide-6-critical-sites-for-researching-your-next-home/comment-page-1/#comment-497 DjangoFan Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:45:00 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/?p=66#comment-497 Propsmart.com, a combination of Google maps and Craigslist, should have been on this list. Propsmart.com, a combination of Google maps and Craigslist, should have been on this list.

]]> By: Dr Housing Bubble http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/the-ultimate-home-buyers-guide-6-critical-sites-for-researching-your-next-home/comment-page-1/#comment-485 Dr Housing Bubble Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:22:00 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/?p=66#comment-485 Chuck,<br/><br/>You are correct. ZipRealty is an excellent service that I would use to purchase a future home. But in terms of researching a place, I have notice that there are more MLS sites on Realtor than on ZipRealty, not by much but I have seen it a few times.<br/><br/>ZipRealty is another excellent site on gathering information regarding a home and they also include time on market, reductions, and a cleaner interface. Another service you should add to the list. Chuck,

You are correct. ZipRealty is an excellent service that I would use to purchase a future home. But in terms of researching a place, I have notice that there are more MLS sites on Realtor than on ZipRealty, not by much but I have seen it a few times.

ZipRealty is another excellent site on gathering information regarding a home and they also include time on market, reductions, and a cleaner interface. Another service you should add to the list.

]]> By: Chuck Ponzi http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/the-ultimate-home-buyers-guide-6-critical-sites-for-researching-your-next-home/comment-page-1/#comment-484 Chuck Ponzi Fri, 30 Mar 2007 04:19:00 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/?p=66#comment-484 Yes, but replace the www.realtor.com with www.ziprealty.com or www.redfin.com and you're right on in #3. I have 2 gripes about Realtor.com<br/><br/>1. It is very slow to update. Ziprealty and Redfin are much faster (redfin only exists in selected areas, but if you buy through them, they rebate you 2/3rds of their commission, that's hard to beat)<br/>2. The search features are pretty crummy, and not all MLS's data is properly captured. Square footage is a big one. Zip and Redfin blow them away in search features and data quality.<br/><br/>Chuck Ponzi<br/>www.socalbubble.com Yes, but replace the http://www.realtor.com with http://www.ziprealty.com or http://www.redfin.com and you’re right on in #3. I have 2 gripes about Realtor.com

1. It is very slow to update. Ziprealty and Redfin are much faster (redfin only exists in selected areas, but if you buy through them, they rebate you 2/3rds of their commission, that’s hard to beat)
2. The search features are pretty crummy, and not all MLS’s data is properly captured. Square footage is a big one. Zip and Redfin blow them away in search features and data quality.

Chuck Ponzi
http://www.socalbubble.com

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