They're ticking time bombs. Baier advises buyers to have underground tanks tested before purchasing a home. Buyers also need to be aware of lead. Federal law now requires that homeowners whose homes were built before 1978, when lead was legally permissible in paint, give buyers a brochure warning them about the possibility of the presence of lead. Information bout potential environmental hazards is more available now, but not always easy to find.
Buyers have to know where to look and what to ask for.
Individuals who are looking to make substantial investments in properties should not rely on anyone telling them there's no problem. It includes searches of toxic site categories as well as maps and profiles about the community in question. You can't see toxic contamination. Very frequently it's underground. Most toxic dumps look like overgrown fields.