Expert: Sue Bernstein - 11/1/2006

Question
  Hi, I have a Q reg buying a home with some consideration of build date.  I.e.; abstetos was banned in 79' I believe, lead paint same date.  Do you have any opinion in other factors, such as quality of materials, earthquake laws for constructions that made homes made after a certain date more durable.  I've heard a real estate agent say that she would not buy any home from the late 70's to the early 80's based on the (fact?) that during the gas crunch, housing materials were of a very cheap quality during this time.   Opinions?  I live in Los Angeles.

Thanks
Tim  

Answer
Dear Tim,
Much of what you are asking should really be requested of a contractor or builder.  I don't even know what a Q reg is.  Real estate agents are not experts at building codes even though through the course of time we are aware of the most important.  As far as an agent saying she would never buy a house between the years of 1970-1980, I have never heard of anything like that and consider it nonsense.  I have been selling real estate in Los Angeles since 1974. I have sold houses of all ages and buyers do their due diligence and I have never come across problems specific to any decade.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Sue Bernstein
www.SueBernstein.com