The home I bought was built during 1950s and San Jose city( &county) record shows 1012 sqft.
I checked city permit since 1968 onwards, there is no remodel (i.e. additional sqft) except roof permit approval in 2013.
When I measure the home, it is 1600 sqft livable area + 2 car garage (440 sqft). I can add 1200 sqft easily as I like to have additional 2 BH and 2 BD. This can be done within set backs easily.
I initially had tear down option when I learnt small home of 1012 sqft, but physically available home is 1600 sqft.
Presently, it is even cheaper for me to add 1200 sqft than tear down rebuild.
Will there be any issue from city by this mismatch 1012 sqft at their record, but physically available building is 1600 sqft?
I presume you are referring to your newly purchase house.
Would be monitoring this thread closely
I have no clue to any of your questions
Hopefully there is a RE decline so I can buy a fixer-upper to build a bigger house.
Yes. I need to remodel or build new one there. I was thinking to rebuild completely when I saw listing with 1012 sqft. With higher sqft, adding 1200 is simple remodel. Sellers do not have any clue about sqft as they are 2nd buyer during 1975. Original owner (first owner) lived from 1950 to 1975.
Try to California room of San Jose library and try to find the orginal plans for the house. If they don’t have plans then you are in great luck. you can contend that the house originally from day-1 was 1600 sq ft and city would have to accept. I had to follow the same route with one of my own properties in san jose in 2015.
Right. How could you not notice sqft is really 1600sqft instead of 1000sqft?
BTW, if one of previous owner did expansion without permit and new owner reveals such fact to city, what is the implication on property tax? Do you need to pay any penalty or portion of tax saved by not getting new tax assessment? I have been wondering about this.
We visited the home two times, we had the doubt about size, but we were focusing on lot size looking for tear down.
Yesterday, after getting into contract, I went again, measured the sqft, it is high. The current owner is perfect in all remodeling and he has got permit after he started owning from 1975 onwards.
IMO, County records may not have been updated as I see the left and right setbacks are 8 feet each (look old 1950s standards) than 12 feet and 6 feet now (or It may be 10 feet and 5 feet)
Ask your agent and escrow officer about getting the city/county records corrected. I’ve found many mismatches in older homes. IIRC it was fairly easy to accomplish.
The square feet mattered in regards to insurance. Having had friends lose homes in fires the county records mattered and it was a pained step to get it corrected in the midst of devastation.
If it’s corrected before COE you might not get the valuation adjusted post closing by some well meaning clerk who raises the value of the home which will raise property taxes.
Trump victory mess up my plan
