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Subject Expert
That’s a big hill. I wouldn’t buy that without an independent geologic report. Landslides in California have buried homes and killed people.
Subject Expert
Don’t do it. You’re trying to justify why it might be ok in a perfect scenario, but you’re hearing about plenty of not so perfect scenarios that lead to bad things.
Talk to an insurance provider or three and see what they say. If any of them have concerns, I hope you take them seriously.
Coach
I'm not justifying anything. This is an effort to crowdsource some anecdotal evidence from people who might have been in similar situation. Only MD1 has given example of their situation (thanks again). Most of you are just parroting what you either think might be the worst case scenario or linking to various mishaps. I'm not going to completely base the biggest purchase of my life on what some anonymous heads on FB talks about. There are real world due diligence that I'll be carrying out. Thanks!
Mentor
Con is drainage and wet basement. Slope your roof toward downhill.
I second the landslide issue and the independent geology survey. The powers that be refuse to address the climate issue and this extreme drought vs. extreme rainfall cycle will only get worse with time. Depending on your location it could be a terrible investment in 5-10 years. Maybe less.
Just because it’s grassy now doesn’t mean it always will be. I second and third the drainage issue. Rain storms and winter when it snows then thaws. Doesn’t seem like you’d have much of a backyard. Also, check for radon.
Coach
The hills starts 50' from the end of the property. I probably didn't phrase that well. There will be radon mitigation system in place.
The only downside is drainage, but if dealt with properly could be just fine.
Coach
I'm not in CA, if that matters. In the Midwest where there isn't much history of landslides. I understand that you can't predict these kinds of things. The hill is grassy with no loose soil.
Also, this is an established regional builder and they are selling 10 lots at the foot of the hill in this development.
Changes anything?
You can also ask them about geology surveys they have had done for the area. Depending on how they act towards that request might tell me all I need to know about trusting them.
Subject Expert
How steep is the hill? I’m not a geologist but a 300’ hill is big and I wouldn’t want that 50’ from my house .
https://igws.indiana.edu/Hazards/Landslides
https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/landslides-can-have-impact-in-nebraska/
Subject Expert
I would feel a little better about that. That’s further than you said initially. Ideally I would want a geological report. That said, have a slope behind my house thats probably 45 degrees. But it’s only 30’ high. The first winter we got heavy rain and there was some slippage on the slope. The builder sent out engineers and they wrote a report and said it was only surface slippage but they stuck a pole into the wet ground and it went WAY in. Since then we have planted heavily on the slope with trees and large bushes and added retaining walls to trellis the slope as well as some drainage. We have lived here 20 years now and the slope is so full of roots now that it’s a bitch when you want to dig a hole to plant something. I always figured that the hill wasn’t nearly big enough to run into my house and worse case my uphill neighbors pool would end up in my back yard. But I figured that was more their problem than mine.
In terms of value, ask an appraiser...is that typical for the area, do they take it into account when valuing in the area. All in seems like it's a water question...if drains as designed you just live at the foot of a hill...what else might be your concern?
Mentor
I guess drainage was the main concern. Some others were, would i yearn for more views than just looking up the hill. More construction up the hill.
Mentor
So, apparently I was way off on the height of the hill. It reaches a peak of 50'. I was only off by a factor of 6 🤭
Got all the survey docs from the city. Talked to city planner. All good. Signed PA this week.