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Property website Redfin recently listed a California mansion with everything you could possibly look for in a luxury property – six bedrooms, 250 square metres of living space, a great location, and an ‘inactive’ meth lab.

The $1.5 million (R30 million) property is conveniently located just 20 minutes drive from Silicone Valley and boasts its very own fruit orchard with oranges and apples. Indeed, it’s everything a budding drug lord could want.

“Great Opportunity to own a large home on a large 6000 sqft lot, Great location to freeway and expressway. The home has an inactive Meth lab and meth contamination,” the listing notes on the Keller Williams Property website.

At this ‘bargain’ price you would think it’s ready to move in, but alas, the new owner will likely have to foot a massive cleanup and decontamination bill as the home has “not been cleared of contamination and will be transferred to the new buyer in its current state.”

You will also have to go in somewhat blind as no house-showing will be done until Santa Clara County’s Health Department will have to give the ‘all clear’ first.

In addition to the drug lab, the property also had ‘unique’ features like a weapons stockpile, “homemade liquid explosives, and multiple energetic homemade destructive devices”. Unfortunately, these have now been removed and will not form part of the sale.

The previous tenant, Peter Karasev, lived there with his wife and three young children before he was arrested in March this year on suspicion of attacking electricity transformers. The guy is now facing a shopping list of charges including obvious child endangerment.

When he was questioned by detectives, Karasev said he was interested in “building model rockets, used meth, and was concerned about the war in Ukraine”.

According to a local contractor, the new owner will have to “rip out the flooring, the sheet rock, insulation … so you’re looking at about (R5.6 million) to bring this back to where it needs to be.”

Despite these minor points, the house is a perfect fixer-upper for any potential drug kingpin or real estate investor. Or someone who loves a big kitchen.

[source:news24&thehill]