Meth Lab For Sale

For Sale:  Meth Lab.... Any Takers?

 

 

(This photo is via)
By the way, if you're interested, you can really purchase this shirt by visiting the site above...but we don't really recommend buying it nor wearing it. That would make you strange and not fashionable!

 

If you follow national news, you might have heard about the young couple who purchased a Freddie Mac foreclosure in Oregon that turned out to be a formal MeTh LaB! Yikes! They renovated the home, moved in, and became ill (mouth sores, dry mouth and all!). A neighbor advised that they thought the home was a former meth lab and when they purchased a $50 testing kit, it confirmed what the neighbors had told them.

Sooooo -- how can you prevent this from happening to you? A couple of ways:

• Always talk to neighbors if possible. Generally, they'll be happy to talk to you and if they know something you should know, they'll probably tell you!  
• Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration's website to review their "National Clandestine Laboratory Register." This list shows properties in which law enforcement agencies found what they believe to be either meth labs or dumpsites. Even if you're not looking to buy a house, checking out this list is kind of interesting ... you know, because everyone should know where their local crack/meth houses are! :) (Be sure to read the disclaimer at the bottom of the website ... it advises that it's not a complete list. Basically, you can't sue them if you purchase a home and it's not on the list).
  http://www.justice.gov/dea/clan-lab/clan-lab.shtml
• It wouldn't hurt to call your local police department and check the address and maybe even ask them for crime stats for the neighborhood/subdivision/area. 
• If you really have suspicions or are overly paranoid about the possibility of purchasing a meth lab, maybe a $50 kit wouldn't be such a bad idea!

One article that we read advised that the following are signs of a meth lab:
1. Yellow discoloration on walls, drains, sinks, and showers.
2. Blue discoloration on valves of propane tanks and fire extinguishers.
3. Burning in your eyes, itchy throat, a metallic taste in your mouth, or breathing problems when in the home.
4.Strong odors that smell similar to materials often found in a garage, such as solvent and paint thinner, or odors of cat urine or ammonia.

Once you purchase a foreclosure (meth lab or not), generally it's yours to keep. You purchase them as-is, in whatever condition they may be in, and with any and all history that comes with it. Hopefully Freddie Mac will help this couple out of this situation, but they may not.

If you want to check out the story, visit: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/oregon-meth-house-owners-delivers-petition-freddie-mac/story?id=17534927

Real Estate in Numbers: Sales Prices Sept '11 vs '12

Average Sales Price - September 2011 vs 2012
(Single Family Residences)

 

Are things beginning to look up? In reviewing the average sales prices for the southern crescent counties, it appears that the average sales prices may be inching up some. Of course, this is just an overview for the month of September in 2011 versus 2012 so we'll have to continue to watch to see what happens but here's the scoop:

 

 

 

We can tell you from experience that inventory is slim and so therefore, there's competition for the properties that are available. This means that in highest and best situations, buyers are often bidding higher than the asking price and in return, properties are selling slightly higher. If this continues to happen, then it would seem that Realtors and appraisers will begin using these higher comps and this will help market values increase. If you're thinking of buying a home, NOW is the time! Jump in there before prices go up any further!