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There is no such thing as an earthquake proof house, and the newer ones actually suffer more damage than the old ones.
In Morgan Hill in the early ‘80s the most recently built homes were mostly completely destroyed because they were too rigid.
Old homes mostly had just superficial damage because they were more flexible.
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Eh, well that is what concerns me—the house is not new—guessing from 70s based on what I have seen.
Problem is that it is in the hills—terraced up the hills are house upon house with retaining walls.
He is there because lives there almost rent-free—and in the Bay area, that is an amazing thing to pull off.