RE: A New Steem Space? (Moving to an old house in the country to practice a more self-directed, anarchic lifestyle)
Saggy uneven floors is a sign the water runoff is doing substantial damage to the foundation. Is the basement level? If not and there are cracks you also, depending on where it's located have to worry about radon gas, which is a gas in the ground that can seep through cracks which can have serious health consequences that can kill you later on. Some times, also depending on where you live at, you can google it for your area and see if radon gas is a issue where you live. If it is then you should test the air in the basement before deciding to occupy the dwelling. Mold is, like you explained a very serious consideration. I too tried to escape the city, it didn't last long, the house had mold issues and after a couple months I would cough endlessly trying to sleep at night. The amount of run off too of the water as in if it wasn't raining as hard as it could have been observed by yourself, the more rain the worst the run off. I would check out the mold and radon issue if there are cracks in the foundation, does it smell musty? If nothing seems out of the ordinary I guess the biggest question would be how often it rains where you are or how much do you like mud...(lol)...versus peace of mind.
Is radon gas a big issue (bigger, perhaps?) in places that just have crawlspaces?
Yes, crawlspaces and basements where the gas can build up underneath a home and seep in. If the house does not have a crawlspace or basement I would doubt there would be much concern. Not every area has the necessity or elements needed to produce the gas either so that is why I said if the house had a basement or underground lower level that would be utilized quite a bit it would be important to check out what the composition of the earth beneath the home is compromised of.