Wanting to Purchase Land with Burned Down House

[John Nisewonger]

So I am looking at buying a 4 acre parcel that had a house, which was recently vacated in the last couple years and ended up burning down this last winter.  The land is right up the road from one of my rental units and I lived in the area for many years.

The house was built in 1987ish.  The house is well and septic. I want to contact the owner (PO Box listed in county real estate website) and try to make an offer.

2 things:

I would assume the house still perks for the septic 3bed 1 bath house that used to be there.  Would there be any reason it wouldn't? Should I get a perk test or just try to hook in to the existing drain field? Maybe just get a test on the system?

The county website listed the exterior as 'other" but it appeared to be asbestos siding (a am no expert but would of thought the county would list asbestos if it was?). The house is about 90% burned down.  How would they clean that up? Does it cost extra to tear down a burned house and pile of rubble rather than a free standing house?  The asbestos is a concern (if it is).

One good sign for me is the county website lists that the taxes have not yet been paid this year.  So they might be ready to sell.