I am looking at a house that is listed as a 5/2 (finished basement), 2000sqft, but the tax assessment has it as 3/2 1000sqft.
I suspect no permits were pulled on the basement, but the seller says the house was bought that way in 1973.
The question is what would be the liability of purchasing? Is it a big risk? Should I be offering based on the tax assessment? And finally how will the bank see it for a conventional mortgage.
They are asking 180k, which is very reasonable for five bedrooms, but not for three.
Bank is going to require an appraisal. If it will appraise the bank will loan. In my area I would not be accepting any risk simply because the county tax register shows it as a 3/2.
It is a walkout basement, and the two bedrooms have windows, closets and doors. I am mostly concerned that the tax man will come tell me to rip it up to be inspected.