California Real Estate Broker ExaminationPropertyMedium
A real estate agent is advising a client about potential environmental hazards on a property built in 1965. The agent should particularly recommend inspecting for which of the following hazards, given the age of the property?
- ARadon gas
- BUnderground storage tanks
- CAsbestos
- DMold
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Asbestos
Asbestos was widely used in building materials for insulation, flooring, and roofing from the 1940s through the 1970s. A property built in 1965 falls squarely within the period where asbestos-containing materials were common, making it a significant concern.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Radon is a naturally occurring gas and is not tied to the age of the property.
- B. Underground storage tanks are a concern, but less universally tied to residential construction of that era compared to asbestos.
- D. Mold is caused by moisture and can occur in properties of any age, not specifically linked to 1965 construction.
Asbestos
A naturally occurring fibrous mineral once widely used in building materials for its fire-resistant and insulating qualities, now known to be a carcinogen.
- Common in homes built before 1978.
- Friable (crumbly) asbestos is most dangerous when disturbed.
- Requires professional abatement or encapsulation.
Memory trick: Environmental hazards are 'hidden dangers' in homes.