Would you buy a property if the older barn was never permitted?

[Kelly Beasley]

Hi all,

I have a property under contract in Tucson, Az. It has a 1br 1ba home on it and a 4000+ SF concrete block barn built back in 1992 I’m told. My concern is if the barn was not permitted.

I’ve heard some stores and I am reading about the crap that can happen by buying a property with an unpermitted addition. I want to do some work on it- add back doors to all the stalls. I am guessing I will need a permit. If I get one, won’t the city see that it didn’t have one already?Will this prompt an inspection? Then what? If they find things wrong, I HAVE to fix them? Even tear down the building? THAT IS HORRIFYING!

So I am asking- would you buy a property with an unpermitted building on it?

Should I use it to lower the price? (I am already going to ask for a TON done in repairs, which the aren’t going to do… and if they don’t, I’ll ask for a HUGE credit.)

Thinking it MAY be worth the risk if I can get the property for bargain basement price.

Anyway, would you run?