Here is a photograph:
http://wpn.mlxchange.com/WPNimages/36/639524_101_12.jpg

Notice the walk way in between the two houses. The house adjacent is
the one that has been foreclosed on and has the mold. As you can see
the houses aren't of the same construction (row) but butted up against
eachother.

I'm not sure if there is siding or anything inbetween them ( I can
check tomarrow). If there is it would be insulbrick.

To answer your question about the property next door selling, it's
almost assured that it will sell very quickly because the area is very
very bustling and property values have skyrocketed in the last few
years. The moldy property will probably sell for more then the the
owner paid for the property I'm thinking about buying (the only thing
he did to it was remodel a bathroom). Eventhough the boom in this area
has somewhat subsided, and it is a buyers market now, they are still
asking rediculous prices. My offer will be a low ball one, that is for
sure.



EXT wrote:
What is the siding between the houses, if weather can get in the space (if
there is a space) and maintenance is impossible between the units, you could
have some bad deterioration, mould or rot starting.


If the units are
physically joined with a solid roof over the joint, I would be looking for
some form of firewall between the units. Personally I would NOT buy a house
that close to another, as any space will form a chimney and pull flames into
the space spreading the fire very quickly. I don't like drywall firewalls. I
prefer solid masonry firewalls with no penetrations, then cover it with
drywall.

"bejay" wrote in message
oups.com...
My first question is how close do the houses come? Do they touch?

What are the zoning requirements in the neighborhood for set backs?

I would be very concerned about the mold issue, being that close. What
about the other property, any chance it will sell?

I would get the best inspector you can and I would be checking with my
insurance company about this.

Being that close, I would also be concerned aboout fire in the next
house. It goes (abandoned property), yours will go.

Bejay
wrote:
I've been spending a lot of time looking at houses. I finally found
something which fits my needs and is in my price range. However, when
the real estate agents and I exited the home, we noticed that the house
butted up against it was foreclosed on. The real estate agent had the
foreclosure key and we were able to go inside the foreclosed house as
well.

The previous owner had left the upstairs water running and the house
smelled rancid of mold (the water is now off).


The properties are butted upagainst eachother, but I dont think they
are of the same construction-- but ONLY on the 2nd floor butts up
against the house, since there is a walk way between the houses... but
the house itself over hangs the wallway. The houses are both frame
construction.

Does anyone know or understand any of the risks involved? If there are
none I can simply use it as a card to get the price down since the
house is in a very popular area and the owner is asking three-times the
price he paid for the property in 2003.

I do not want to simply write this off as a lost cause, the house fits
me too well to do this. I figure with a good home inspection and
possibly a mold specialist I'd be able to determine what risks are
involved.