square footage in county tax records does not match MLS listing (house, work)

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by xzillr8

In my case, I am purchasing a property in which the tax records show a 1590 s/f house. However, the property has a 2100 s/f main house and also a 1700 s/f guest house (built in 2011). So, I assume the owner added on to the main house and then later constructed the guest house.

My main concern is: how do you think this will affect me down the road with the property tax office? Could I potentially be subjected to "back taxes" to make up for all the years this extra house and additional s/f has gone un-noticed by them? Am I obligated to disclose this information to them? I'd like to know now what I might be getting myself in to, if and once they notice it. Thanks.

You should ask for advice from an attorney or your Realtor.

[iamwayne]

Get the appraisal with the complete sqft and value. Update your tax office. If the taxes are paid off and you didn't assume the liability for the previous months/year taxes, I see no worries, because you assume tax liability once you sign and take possession with the updated appraisal and sqft.

Only problem is if the add-on were not permitted and if they were required then they need to be permitted and inspected, headache if you search and read similar stories on here.

[Halls1027]

Texas is a non disclosure state, I'd leave the tax record alone. Wouldn't hurt to ask a real estate lawyer to make sure.

[wpme]

My home has 33% more square footage than the county says it does, I'm not saying squat

[centralaustinite]

Yes, the tax record isn't as significant BUT if all that work was done without a permit? THAT is a problem.

[wpme]

The extra sq footage is the basement, pretty sure it was there before they built the house on top of it.

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by wpme

The extra sq footage is the basement, pretty sure it was there before they built the house on top of it.

Not many places across the country count the basement as sqft of the house, even when it's finished out.

[mesmer]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

Not many places across the country count the basement as sqft of the house, even when it's finished out.

In some places, finished walk out basements count. I seem to have read that in some other places they do have a method for counting "finished below grade square footage" as well, but I don't remember where that was. It's really spotty.

[mimidockery]

Our home is 3 bedrooms 2 1/2 bath 1750 sf, our daughters family is moving in with us, they have 7 family members that's 9 altogether. Had to find a bigger space. Looked for a long time finally found one 4 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths 2600 sf according to MLS listing, liked the location plus 1.1 acre of land. Older home so needed lots of updates, some mildue/mold, all windows, fencing etc. Home not taken care of stuff. A couple of times it crossed our minds that it seemed so much smaller than 2600 sf should be. But the price was right $196,000 for us. Before committing I was browsing through other housing sites and realized that house had several different sizes on sf depending on site. Immediately called our realtor to get the straight scoop. She got hold of listing realtor and was assured 2600 was accurate and professionally measured. So we went through with a contract feeling funny but after all we are not professionals. Then the appraisal came back, 1615 sf total living space, (smaller than our present home)unfinished basement (no heat or air) was 418 sf, garage 567 sf. a 985 sf difference in actual living area..What do we do. Our home is now under contract both to close on Aug. 5th.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by mimidockery

Our home is 3 bedrooms 2 1/2 bath 1750 sf, our daughters family is moving in with us, they have 7 family members that's 9 altogether. Had to find a bigger space. Looked for a long time finally found one 4 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths 2600 sf according to MLS listing, liked the location plus 1.1 acre of land. Older home so needed lots of updates, some mildue/mold, all windows, fencing etc. Home not taken care of stuff. A couple of times it crossed our minds that it seemed so much smaller than 2600 sf should be. But the price was right $196,000 for us. Before committing I was browsing through other housing sites and realized that house had several different sizes on sf depending on site. Immediately called our realtor to get the straight scoop. She got hold of listing realtor and was assured 2600 was accurate and professionally measured. So we went through with a contract feeling funny but after all we are not professionals. Then the appraisal came back, 1615 sf total living space, (smaller than our present home)unfinished basement (no heat or air) was 418 sf, garage 567 sf. a 985 sf difference in actual living area..What do we do. Our home is now under contract both to close on Aug. 5th.

Wow!!! NINE people in 1600 sq ft? I hope some of them are babies!

You "lost" 1/3 of the living space you thought you contracted for! Are you sure the number of rooms is correct?

Even a fixer at a buck twenty-two a sq foot on over an acre sounds "OK"; but it's location, location, location! Too many factors to say whether this might still be a viable deal. It sure doesn't pass the 'smell test' according to your story.

I'd sure want to know who 'imagined' that original square footage...It honestly doesn't sound like it is what you need(decent sized garage,though )