Look for a local soil studies or a geologist.

There's a high likelihood of contaminated soils

Hi Sylvia,If it were mine,  (and if I wanted to spend the money):I’d leave it all white and,Put black shutters on all front windowsGet rid of the cement circle in the front yard.Berm the driveway with soil to the grade of the cement (liability issue)Paint the utility box on the left side white to blend in.Paint the front door blackPaint the breather medallion at the peak black(Spray) white on the porch railing and uprights.Add some  low maintenance evergreen bushes to the left side that are just above porch floor height.Rewire the over garage light to 3 lights (1 to the right of the front door, one on either side of the garage) and use brass classic looking carriage lights.Convert the over garage light to a motion sensor with 2 flood lights for tenant safety and tenant retention.Put Large Brass house number to the right of the door at an upward angle.Good Luck with your decisions!

If I had a choice of being on Municipal or well and septic, I will take well and septic any day, the Well is little maintenance and no bill and with exceptions, generally you may replace a pump and piping every 50 years or so unless lightning whacks the pump, still a pretty cheap fix,  septics, in WI require pumping and inspection every 3 years ($150-$300) and if maintained will last 20-50+ years and depending where you are and soil type replacement would be $2,500 to $20,000 I can get a 1000 gal (3 bedroom) system replaced up north in sand country for $2500, in clay its more as often you need a mound.

It is not due to earthquakes..it is due to the constant contraction and expansion of the soil underneath many cities.

I guess but i would have to see that.. thats pretty crazy.. you let houses sit like that in those weather conditions and soil conditions with out regular maintenance they will get either broken into and stripped or squatters or foundations will go wonky.. 

The structure costs are pretty black and white and would apply to almost any lot, only difference is in the grading or export/import of dirt and/or quality of the soil. 

@Sandy H.

I think Sandy did a deal close by a property I sold a little while back. 

Maybe do a survey and make sure that the houses are on their own property, not encroaching on another lot.Make sure the ground water is not so high that it floods the basement, house.Make sure there are not a bunch of termites in the ground, and eaten up wood in the houses.Make sure the soil is not shifting, depending on where the houses are located, think sink hole.Check water pressure.Sooo, many things it could be physically.Then you have to look at the social things like the houses getting broken into every other day, neighbors from the hood, or even a building inspector going through a divorce:)  Or maybe it is just something simple like the buyer could not get financed since the house is a wreck, only certain financing is available.