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Since you're a first time buyer of Flower Mound homes for sale, you probably don't know much about lead, particularly the laws about it that are related to home ownership. Lead can be very dangerous. How much a person is exposed may cause any one of the following:

- Brain damage and negative effects to the nervous system - Behavior problems - Slowed growth - Headaches - Complications during pregnancy - High blood pressure - Digestive problems - Joint and muscle pain

Any person is prone to the dangers of lead, but those who are at highest risk are children, especially very young kids who put almost anything inside their mouths- for example, chips of paint that may contain lead.

There are many ways in which people can be exposed to lead. One of the most common is through lead-based paint. Because of the danger, the government banned the use of such paint in homes in 1978, but before that year, many residential properties use lead paint. To protect buyers, laws were submitted requiring sellers to provide lead disclosures for houses constructed before 1978.

Under the regulations about lead paint disclosures, sellers are required to reveal in writing all the known information about lead in the property. If there are tests performed, the results have to be shared. Sellers or agents should also provide buyers a copy of the publication "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home" from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It is also required that purchase contracts give home buyers a time period of a maximum of ten days to inspect for any lead hazards in the home. Even though buyers are not obliged to inspect for lead, they must be provided with a chance to perform such an inspection.

Intact lead-based paint, meaning there's no wear, chipping, or cracking, doesn't pose any health risks. So if you're buying a house that contains lead paint, you should carefully watch for the following:

- Cracking, chipping, or peeling paints - Areas in the property that are vulnerable to wear and tear that can cause chipping or contact to underlying paint layers on fences, porches, door frames, window sills, banisters, and stair railings - Lead dust resulting from dry scraped or sanded paint - Lead in the property's soil around the house that is caused by chipping lead-based paint on the exterior (this can be very dangerous for children who play outdoors and also in a major spot to be brought inside through shoes)

When buying a house in Flower Mound real estate, you should be aware of the other possible sources of lead aside from lead paint:

- Lead can be found in water if the water pipes contain lead or lead solder (lead cannot be distinguished through smell or taste so make sure you have the water tested) - Old painted furniture or even toys - Factories that discharge lead in the air - Hobbies that make use of objects that contain lead, like furniture refinishing, pottery, and stained glass work

Josh Hartman is a freelance writer who specializes in writing content about real estate, business and investment. Check out great and listings.