How much does cracking along door frames/windows scare you?

[David Sray]

Hi folks,

So I'm looking at a well-priced home as a second investment property and it needs some work. That in itself isn't too scary, but the number of sizable cracks inside the house are. They are in nearly every room of this small 3/1, and mostly vertical above the door frame to the ceiling, but also with a smattering of ones along windows running somewhat horizontal. I suspect that the partial culprit is an enormous tree in the tiny backyard that is maybe 6 feet from the house, but don't know much about this type of thing. Seriously, though, that tree ever falls it's taking two houses with it.

Do lots of cracks inside typically make you shy away from an investment?

[Tony Gunter]

Your in Texas, as in not east Texas. An area notorious for foundation settling, especially slab on grade construction. If you are investing in Texas I would study up on this topic. I did before we bought our last residence in the Denton area, and in Ardmore Oklahoma before that. That entire part of the country is unstable because of the clay type and moisture expansion and contraction cycles. Learn what to look for and examine every property for problems. The "Ram Jack" boys are not cheap.