E3only

Hi there,

Does anyone have information on Val Vista and Valley Trail neighborhoods Pleasanton, CA. We liked a couple of homes there but were a bit hesitant based on some lite reading we did. We uncovered there is a water treatment facility next to where Val Vista is. It had some issues many many years ago (odor) which has been taken care. The other issue was there is some alleged conversations on blogs etc talking about foundation issues with homes in Val Vista.

Of course we are talking to our agent and getting more info and understand that the inspections that will happen will bring out structural or foundation issues (?). Before we do that, we want to do our own research.

Anyone in the area can shed some light.

Welcome any input....thx.

E3only

Hi Guys,

I would appreciate any input you may have on this, please.

We are considering out options and to summarize
1. Price is a good for a 4 bedroom place completely remodeled
2. great location
3. downside is it's close to a water treatment facility & stigma that the homes there have foundation issues. Not heard of any specific homes but a merely going by what seems to be the talk. The houses were built in 70's and apparently some of them have drainage issues and hence the foundation issue.

We have to decide weather we should go in with an offer or not. Its going to be cheap home given it's bay area so the mortgage will be around 500K (gulp).

our concerns are
- treatment facility: we have put forth a lot of questions and know that although this was a concern many years ago, there is no concern now
- founding issues: we know it can be fixed but is going to be costly depending on what the damage would be. Obviously if we put an offer that were to be accepted we will ahve inspections. If there is an issue we will back out. that being said we are very paranoid 'what if' it happens in the future. How serious are foundation issues?

Any guidance would be appreciated. Does anyone here, live in Pleasanton?

Sally Redux

I don't actually know but I like to watch 'Flip this House' and nearly every house on that show needs to have foundation problems dealt with - they jack the house up and put additional piers underneath.

If the area has a reputation for problems though, resale should be borne in mind. There's quite a pleasant area near us but it's blighted by being next to the town dump.

Jerseygirl

A friend of ours recently found out that his house had sank a little and broken/cracked all the pipework. Cost in the region of $100K to get it sorted out. Then I read in another thread someone who doesn't live in the US wants to buy a house as an investment.

Sally Redux

The Plax is cheap

Jerseygirl

I said the word 'cheap' to someone the other day and they came back with 'the least expensive'. I wonder why Americans don't like that word?

Sally Redux

sir_eccles

You have to be dipped in tea daily to build up a patina like that!

E3only

So stay away......?

Jerseygirl

Sorry I took your thread off topic...my comments had nothing to do with houses in CA.

Mummy in the foothills

Have you tried just driving through and asking the neighbors. Most will probably be brutally honest if they are pissed off at the water treatment plant for some reason.
Does it still smell bad in the summer heat?

Sally Redux

I don't know...you could get a bargain...good idea to ask around though.

E3only

The neighborhood is really neat...we tried to hang around try and catch neighbors but couldn't. I think we might have to wait longer!

I have heard (going by internet research only) that when it gets too hot and if the wind blows in certain directions then it can lead to the smell.

Need to talk to some folks but the problem is we have been here only 2 years and making contacts and talking to anyone has been difficult

E3only

Pretty much gaurantee that it won't be a bargin...houses around 25% lower sq footage in the same area have been selling for 550K+