kitchen in garage? (HOA, insurance, mortgage)

[tentenequals20]

I see some homes where they have converted a 2 car garage to a kitchen. The garage door cannot be opened and there is a dry wall on the inside. They also have a refrigerator and stove with cabinets inside the garage with finished floors.

I dont think this would be permitted. Is that right?

What else should one look at before buying this? Does mortgage and insurance companies even allow this?

Thank you

[cheryjohns]

A kitchen?

I have seen some that converted to a bedroom or a game room - but not a kitchen. What did they do to the old kitchen?

Many are set up to be easily converted back - just tear down the sheetrock - the garage door itself was left operable. Going further in a conversion lowers the value of the house.

[testmo]

look no further - dont buy it

[Lbjen]

Some people do it because they are operating a food business from their home, until recently that was the only way you could do it. They may also be keeping kosher.

[texas7]

Many of the Asian families in our area have an oven in their garage in addition to the one inside the house. Not sure why but it is quite common with them.

[tentenequals20]

Thank you all!
I will pass this one. Even my insurance company advised against this.

[chrmeo]

it's done to avoid the food smells and grease from getting all inside of the house and sofas and everywhere. this way you cook in the garage and vent the smell/fumes outwards, and try to avoid cooking inside the real kitchen

i've seen it alot in homes owned by asian/south asian families. either cook meals in the garage or cook in the backyard

[goodhugh]

There are days I wished my kitchen was outside. I avoid running the oven on 100+ days but if it was outside or in the garage...... well that would rock.

[GTRdad]

Quite common in my neighborhood. The vietnamese folks like having a picnic setup and full kitchen setup along side it in their garages. I think its a good way to prepare for hurricanes

[texas7]

Some of the hoa people get in an uproar that they cook in the garage. As long as they aren't storing flammables in the garage and it isn't an eyesore, I could care less that thy have an oven out there