How risky is sloped back yard? (Boston, Sudbury: house, buying, deposits)

[avav]

Hi all,

A house is located near 10 ft slope. Located in the Boston area. House is 60 yo
When should this be a concern ?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_k3...ew?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tjF...ew?usp=sharing

Thanks

[CaseyB]

You don't want a lot where the slope is towards the house.

[avav]

Thanks CaseyB
The slope is from the house onward. My concern is that the house foundations are very close to a 10 ft down slope

[BostonMike7]

If it hasn’t moved in 60 years, it’s probably not going to

[avav]

Thanks BostonMike7, I want to believe this...
I don't know the history of that particular lot. was it worsened over the years?
Last Category 3 Hurricanes to hit MA was in 1954 and climate is changing
With weather as with investments past performance is no guarantee of future results...
I eventually decided not to take the risk although I loved the hose. Just wondering how stupid that decision was

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

If it hasn’t moved in 60 years, it’s probably not going to

This.

Slope saturation is a common type of natural landslide which might occur in MA, and if it hasn't done so yet there is a good chance it won't ever happen. The other common natural cause is undercutting by rivers, streams, ocean waves, etc., but from the images you provides I don't see any indication that this is a risk.

The nasty rotational landslides one sees in other parts of the country are not terribly common here, though they do happen in areas of MA which have heavy silt deposits (clay) from glacial melt. Few, if any, of those areas are in the immediate areas of Boston/95. You do hit clay in Metro west towns like Sudbury and the Northshore.

There were some very bad rotational landslides during tropical storm Irene, induced by heavy rainfall, but if I recall correctly the bulk of the damage was in the Connecticut river valley which is both clay heavy and saw undercutting from the high volume of water.

Here's a read for you, which I read before buying my steeply sloped property: http://www.geo.umass.edu/stategeolog..._MA_Report.pdf

[avav]

Thanks Shrewsburried that is very helpful

On the map they provide, i marked the property location with X
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bMX...ew?usp=sharing

So according to the The Massachusetts Geological Survey, it is supposed to be in a 'stable' location

[johngolf]

Originally Posted by avav

Thanks BostonMike7, I want to believe this...
I don't know the history of that particular lot. was it worsened over the years?
Last Category 3 Hurricanes to hit MA was in 1954 and climate is changing
With weather as with investments past performance is no guarantee of future results...
I eventually decided not to take the risk although I loved the hose. Just wondering how stupid that decision was

That backyard is so small is is useless as a backyard, but if not needed as such, a nice deck could be built to extend over it.

[OutdoorLover]

Those trees that look like they are located on the slope, their roots help to stabilize it. Don't subtract trees there, if you want do something, add trees (or large shrubs).

[avav]

Originally Posted by johngolf

That backyard is so small is is useless as a backyard, but if not needed as such, a nice deck could be built to extend over it.

Yes it is quite sloppy and useless although quite big, more than 6,000 sqf