new investor question re: zoning certification discrepancies (number of units)

[Francina Peralta]

Good evening, we are trying to purchase (as a first time investor) an attached multi unit property and we have requested a Freedom of Information Act (FIOA) which shows some discrepancies and would like some guidance from you all before proceeding with the purchase.

There are some discrepancies around the number of units the City has it under versus what is being marketed at. It is advertised and marketed as a 3 unit building (which it is) but in the FIOA it shows as 1 non residential and 4 units building. On top of this, it is documented in the FOIA as 2 stories building rather than 3.

If we decide to proceed with the purchase, the seller has to give us a zoning certification showing 3 legal dwelling units; however, zoning certifications are not permanent documents. Per the City Ordinance, they are valid for only one year after issuance, which means we will have to re-issue every year, which seems time consuming.

I also am concerned that the City is showing this as a range of addresses instead of as a single address. This property has an easement agreement in place with the neighboring building, and it seems like it will always be intimately linked with the other building.

This multi-unit seems to be priced well, in a location that is growing and a turnkey investment.

Should this issue of discrepancies be of concern to not proceed with the purchase? Will all these headaches be worth it?

Thanks in advance!