Concerns When Buying A Home: Environmental Hazards 

Hidden environmental hazards can affect your health -- and be costly to remediate. They can affect the value of a property if they are not discovered before you buy. These hazards include but are not limited to water quality issues, buried oil tanks on the property, and the presence of lead or mold in the home itself.

The most common environmental hazard that confronts new homebuyers is a buried oil tank on a property. It is important to know if one is there, and in what condition. If a buried oil tank has been removed by seller, most mortgage lenders require documentation that it was removed and disposed of legally and properly.

It's important that you arrange with the appropriate proffessionals the inspections you feel you require to evaluate any home your are considering to puchase.   A good buyer's agent is always the source of the source of the professional assistance you need. Here again a knowledgeable local real estate professional representing your interest can be invaluable. Note:( A buyer's agent can not always know everything about the area around a home you maybe interested in. It is the responsibility of the buyer to do their own due dilligence about the area they plan to purchase a home in.)

Note: The terms "buyer's broker," "buyer's agent," and "buyer representative" are used interchangeably on this site. Different locales use different terminology for the same idea: a real estate professional who represents you -- the buyer.