If you are buying an investment home with popcorn ceilings, consider removing or replacing this textured ceiling treatment.  They date a home and are associated with dirt, dust and asbestos. These old spray-on or paint-on ceiling treatments were once very popular in bedrooms and hallways, but they aren't popular anymore. Sure, they hide imperfections and offer nice acoustical characteristics, but they are not preferred these days. Home buyers equate them to asbestos, dirt and dust, because many contained asbestos and they usually would get painted more often than cleaned! Before trying to remove this treatment yourself, contact the health department.