The price of the two-story, 3,800-square-foot house for sale on Aspen Grove Lane in Elk Grove stands out even in a down market.
The five-bedroom, three-bath home in a gated community is listed at $387,000 "as-is" or $437,000 with repairs.
The low price – and the need for repairs – stems from the house's use as an indoor marijuana farm. Last fall, police hauled out 865 plants.
The bank-owned house has drawn offers despite its history, said Gary Lee, a Realtor with Re/Max Gold who is the listing agent for the home.
"They look at them as bargains," Lee said.
The house is one of dozens in Elk Grove where occupants ripped out walls, set up irrigation systems and pirated electricity to cultivate their illegal crop.
They may be cheap, but law enforcement and environmental health officials say buyers should consider potential structural problems and health dangers such as mold and chemical contamination.
"They should factor that into their decision about whether or not to purchase the home," said Gordon Taylor, special agent in charge of the Sacramento office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Even if former pot houses are fixed up, the remediation work should be assessed, said Jerry Bucklin, an industrial hygienist who is president and CEO of Network Environmental Systems Inc., of Folsom.
Owners of the former pot houses can be cited for violations of state health and safety codes and municipal codes that cover such things as the removal of interior walls, illegal rewiring and water damage, said Shane Diller, community enhancement manager for Elk Grove. But the codes do not cover mold, he said.
Health risks vary, depending on the age of the house, how long it was used to grow pot, the concentration of chemicals that were used and the age and health of the people who move in, Bucklin said.
An environmental assessment by a certified industrial hygienist with experience in indoor marijuana farms can cost $1,500 to $4,000, he said.
Indoor marijuana operations are flourishing because the plants can be grown year-round, resulting in three to four harvests a year in a protected setting, said Bill Ruzzamenti, director of the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.
In 2007, authorities busted 3,713 indoor marijuana houses in the United States, 590 in California, according to DEA figures. Taylor said there could be more because not all local busts are reported to the agency.
From summer 2006 to early 2007, the DEA busted a network of 50 pot homes in the Central Valley, stretching from Sacramento to Modesto. Fifteen of the homes were in Elk Grove, he said. Taylor said 16 people were arrested in connection with the operation, which was linked to a Bay Area crime ring.
Elk Grove police raided another 21 homes – including the Aspen Grove Lane house – last fall. Six of the 15 people arrested in that case are scheduled to go on trial this fall. The rest pleaded no contest and were sentenced.
These two large busts and a number of smaller ones resulted in 40 Elk Grove houses being red-tagged for safety and structural problems since summer of 2006.
To convert the houses into pot farms, growers installed special lights and brought in large amounts of fertilizer and growth hormones. They cut holes into walls and ceilings for air filtration and ventilation systems. Several tampered with electrical wiring to steal power and operate clandestinely, said Sgt. Scott French, who oversees the narcotics unit for the Elk Grove police.
Bucklin said there's no way to know how or where the growers disposed of their pesticides and other chemicals.
And the warm, moist environment that helped the marijuana thrive was also perfect for many species of mold, he said.
Mold spores are easily embedded in building materials such as drywall, linoleum, wood and carpet, Bucklin said. The only effective remedy for areas with significant mold is removal and replacement.
French said some of the Elk Grove police officers who raided pot homes two years ago complained of chest colds, itchy eyes and mild headaches. During last fall's raids, officers wore special clothing and equipment, including respirators, goggles and overalls.
Real estate agents are required to disclose anything related to the value or desirability of a property that's for sale. In most cases, the fact that a home was used as an indoor pot farm should be disclosed, said June Barlow, vice president and general counsel for the California Association of Realtors.
Barlow recommends that buyers ask questions and to hire qualified experts.
"Knowing what you're buying is better before than a surprise after the fact," she said.
Call The Bee's Sandy Louey, (916) 478-2654.
