Foundation problems in Canyon Creek? (Richardson: for sale, houses, transfer)

[seattlerain1]

We looked at a house in the Canyon Creek neighborhood of Richardson and the inspection report says that there could be some foundation issues. We have a structural engineer coming out and I suspect that there will need some work to be done. The house was built in 1960's so, of course, there will be some issues, but having foundation problems (even if repaired) freaks me out a bit.
We have looked at other houses in this neighborhood and most had obvious foundation issues. Is this common in this specific area? Would you purchase a house w/ foundation problems (even if it is repaired)? The biggest thing that draws us to this house is the location, but we dont want to buy a money pit.
Thanks for your advice.

[bricor]

It's nothing out of the ordinary for a home in this area and that age to need piers. If the work was done right, I'd have no problem with it. When it comes to a slab, having piers is better than not having piers. But talk to an engineer or 2 and get their professional opinion.

[loves2read]

and the company that does the work is very important
some companies are just better than others
I would ask the engineers if they have preferences for companies that do repair work
call the better business bureau and ask for references that are at least two years old--make sure the work that was done has stayed true...
it is a negotiating point
there are some homes that really aren't worth having foundation work done, probably, and others that are--depending on their variables...
frankly I think a newer house with foundation problems is more of a worry than an older home...

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by seattlerain1

We looked at a house in the Canyon Creek neighborhood of Richardson and the inspection report says that there could be some foundation issues. We have a structural engineer coming out and I suspect that there will need some work to be done. The house was built in 1960's so, of course, there will be some issues, but having foundation problems (even if repaired) freaks me out a bit.
We have looked at other houses in this neighborhood and most had obvious foundation issues. Is this common in this specific area? Would you purchase a house w/ foundation problems (even if it is repaired)? The biggest thing that draws us to this house is the location, but we dont want to buy a money pit.
Thanks for your advice.

I may know which house you are talking about.

I looked at several properties in Canyon Creek, all built in the 1960s, most with aluminum wiring, all but one with obvious foundation and/or plumbing problems. There are also a lot of flip houses in the CC subdivision so they make the insides look cute without addressing serious structural problems. Avoid the flip houses, those speculators almost never address structural, electrical, or plumbing problems. They put a fresh coat of paint on it, lay laminate floors, put in a cheap kitchen, and put a "for sale" sign out front.

The CC subdivision is mostly houses from the 1960s built on slabs. I do not think it's unique in terms of having houses in need of structural repairs by any means, remember these houses are sometimes over 40 years old and have had a long time to develop problems. Even careful maintenance cannot always prevent a foundation problem from developing and pier and beam houses are not immune either.

If the foundation is repaired, it's not a house with a foundation problem, it's a house that used to have one. I think a transferable warranty would only cover the portion of the foundation that was repaired, not the entire foundation. I personally would not buy a house with an expensive foundation problem because I would rather not spend the money it would take to fix it. The house I am trying to buy is being inspected tomorrow morning and I am scared to death they will find something scary!

Do not stress too much about it, just wait and see what the engineer says. It may be nothing.