The root cause of the foundation problems is possibly the expansive clay soil.

There is also a max size to them and it is usually based on the available size of a drain field you can install and the type of soil you have.

The inspection stated not all was level, but fully functional.Main problems:- Low soil clearance or *no* clearance crawlspace - under the entryway and under the bathroom could not be accessed at all unless crawlspace is dug out.

Most water intrusion is due to improper drainage and can be addressed simply by ensuring the gutters are in good repair, have downspouts and extensions and also make sure that the soil is graded away from the foundation.

To top it off if it is already a platted lot and I have the soil testing done for septic I could get all the permits in an easy morning.

Settlement may be caused by undersized pier bases, water ingress into the crawlspace, expansive soil, etc.

Hi Ellie,I was the Analyst for a property in Boston that had slight soil settlement and required an engineers report for further evaluation after the Appraisal was done (which was made "subject to" the engineer report).

Considering a 10+ unit residential commercial property if one already owns the land, has everything else in order: civil engineering, soil survey, Phase I, and architectural blueprints...if the owner was forced to sell due to lack of financing and or some other reason does having those things necessarily increase the value of the vacant land?

@Sandy Gabin google 'tenant quiet hours' basically 10 pm to 7 am.

Oil tank removal and remediation should be the seller's responsibility, not yours, UNLESS you're a very experienced investor getting a tremendous deal sold strictly "as is" where you've waived all your inspection rights.The worst case could be significant soil contamination requiring thousands of dollars in remediation, followed by soil and ground water tests by the state of NJ.