How to report additional sq ft to Maryland Tax record (Elkridge: mortgage, house)

[reksun]

Hi

We are planning to bid for a family home in elkridge MD area. Seller made additions in 2004 (310 sq ft to existing squzre foot) . According to seller , additional square foot is not added to maryland tax record. Anybody can help me here to how to add the extra sq ft to tax record once we buy the home. what is the process involved??

Thanks
Rajan

[dhelfoioracle]

You can check the records yourself at Maryland Real Property. Also you can always ask the county to come and look at the Property. Just curious what of Elkridge? I live in Elkridge also.

[sobo16]

The State Department of Assessments and Taxation conducts reassessments every three years. The new square footage should be reflected in the reassessment when they conduct it. Good luck getting them to come out and do a special assessment; it took me approximately 48 calls to their office to convince them that I live in a house and not on an empty lot.

[lscalder]

You do know by doing so your property tax will increase.

[vanyali]

How in the world did they add square footage without the government knowing about it? Didn't they get a building permit? Wasn't the work inspected? Check to make sure they pulled permits for the work, and if not, walk away from the place.

[dhelfoioracle]

Actual they guess on square footage or just go off what the home owner tells them. They also wouldn't necessarily need a building permit either. For example if they turn their already existing deck into a a game room and they ran no major wiring or plumbing then there's no need for a permit. If they turn it into a bathroom there would be permits needed but not for the building.

[mom2boys37]

I do believe the taxes you are paying are for the property value and not necessarily the sq ft on the house. I'm sure it has some to do w/ it but the property is what the state is more concerned with. They can get more money for that. My mom pays an outrageous amt for her taxes in Howard County. She has 5 acres but the house is only 1500 sq ft so that should just tell you something.

[reksun]

Thanks for the replies.I will follow up with county.

[rubytue]

Originally Posted by dhelfoioracle

They also wouldn't necessarily need a building permit either. For example if they turn their already existing deck into a a game room and they ran no major wiring or plumbing then there's no need for a permit. If they turn it into a bathroom there would be permits needed but not for the building.

That totally depends on the county. My county (Harford) requires a permit for everything! And actually, any change of use (deck into a conditioned space-game room) should get a use and occupancy permit. We just went through the permit process to change from 1 bathroom to 2 (in the same space). We had to get building, plumbing, and electrical permits, and had 3 difference inspectors (framing/insulation, plumbing, and electrical). We still need the final use and occupancy, but aren't quite done (yet we are using one )

That said, we didn't permit our fence, even though we are supposed to.

I would go to the county and check for permits. Permits are public record; we were able to check the permits for the addition on the house we bought before we made the offer.

[vanyali]

Yeah, I don't know the rules for the specific county you're in, and I don't know what it was that the sellers you're talking about did, but sometimes when people build or alter things without permits, and they were supposed to get permits for the work, you can have trouble getting a mortgage to buy the property. I've heard of title insurers insisting that illegal decks come down and such like that. That might be more of an issue if the illegal structure actually violates zoning rules, and it might be different in different localities, but unpermitted work on a house you want to buy is something you should check into.