The ground moves in California, and if you live here long enough you will feel the earth move too. Not only do we have blissful weather, beaches, mountains and more than our fair share of sunshine, we also have earthquakes on a regular basis, and in Palos Verdes we also have one of the largest active landslides in the country. Mudslides are a common threat during the rainy season. Yes, our precious California land does its fair share of shaking, slipping and sliding.
What's a prospective buyer to do? Educate yourself, investigate the area, and inspect the property. Most of the Palos Verdes Peninsula is made up of bedrock and building a foundation on a bed of rock is a stabilizing anchor for most Palos Verdes homes.
A visit to the local city planning department will reveal details not only about the property in question, but also about building moratoriums, building restrictions and local codes.
No one should purchase a property subjected to earthquake shaking without having a thorough physical inspection of the property. If further investigation is suggested, it may be advisable to engage a structural engineer and/or a geologist.
In California the real estate purchase contract grants the buyer 17 days to inspect the property. The savvy buyer will use these days to assemble and evaluate a written assessment of the property. Numerous disclosures and reports by the sellers, inspectors, real estate agents and other professionals engaged to inspect the property deserve and require the buyer's attention and acceptance in order to complete the purchase.
\Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800
South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
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It's a very interesting yet accurate title Norma about the California ground. In Texas we have tornadoes, hail storms and the occasional hurricane. I think you have to live in Nebraska to have some stability but they still get blizzards. The 17 days definitely helps you better define the status quo of the structure.
Gary - Natural hazards are to be expected and we need to know how to deal with them, and what to look for in structures that have withstood the shaking.
Norma, yep! earthquakes. Hollister is a rip roaring, shakin place.
I lived through the Loma Prieta. In some respects, it was fun and exciting, but that is probably because I wasn't injured and didn't suffer any property damage.
It might sound odd, but I miss earthquakes living in KY. There have been a few tiny ones (5.0 max) since I've been here.
Norma, great and informative post! Thanks for reminding us to have our buyers do their due dilligence. I like that 17 day inspection provision in the purchase contract.
Norma - Very interesting post and I have lived in California and the ground was really moving when I was there, it really never bothered me though because I love Cali so much.
Vegas Bob
Andrew - Earthquakes are a part of life in California....for better or worse, they come with the territory.
Tony & Darcy - The 17 day inspection period can often be extended if additional time is needed to complete thorough inspections of the property.
Robert -- I experienced my first California earthquake three months after moving here in 1989. The first one is definitely memorable and a bit surreal.
Excellent advice Norma! I will say this however, I've lived in California all my life, and I'd rather live with the threat of earthquakes, rather than take on hurricanes and tornadoes any day of the week!
thanks for sharing the info.
Myrl - Thank you, and Mother Nature spreads her natural disasters around.
Xinh - Knowledge is the best way to deal with fear of the unknown.