Multifamily(?) turned into a single family but listed as Multi

Multifamily(?) turned into a single family but listed as Multi

Member since 2019 路 6 posts 路 0 votes

I put an offer on a home that was previously a multifamily home in Providence RI. Every home within several blocks in multifamily, not a single family home in sight.

I put an offer in and after some back and forth, get an accepted offer. Listed at $325, offer accepted at $321 with seller crediting $7K for closing. Everything in the area is going for well over asking, so I was pleased with this.

However, the owners had a large family and converted the 2 family into a single family home. This means that to restore it back, there needs to be some walls put up where they were taken down; but nothing huge I am thinking. That said, the upstairs kitchen was turned into a bedroom, so it would take some money to recreate the kitchen. However, we are looking to have roommates and use the shared kitchen until this can be done down the road.

I just learned that they went to city hall and had it reclassified as a single family home to save on taxes. My fear is that for some reason it won't be reclassified back as a multifamily, or that during the assessment it will uncover some other thing requiring costly improvements.

That said, EVERY house in the neighborhood is a multifamily, qnd my realtor indicates that this is a simple process, and not fraught with risks.

Has anyone had experience in this realm? Is there a high risk that qfter putting the kitchen back on the second floor it will not be reclassified?

0Reply
66 views

6 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Buy and Hold Investor 路 Cranston, RI 路 Member since 2013 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Jeremy Mortimore I would definitely not assume it will automatically be approved for conversion back to a 2-family.

    As a general rule, cities and towns are happy to change the use down (fewer legal units), but to go up the property has to conform to current zoning requirements or you need to get an approved variance (which might not be easy, especially if any of the neighbors object).

    What may have happened is that before, when the property was a 2-family, it didn't meet the current zoning requirements but was "grandfathered in" as a legal non-conforming use. However now that it's changed, in order to change it back you will need to conform to the current requirements or get a variance.

    That will mean specified setbacks, parking area, etc. You can look up the requirements for the town using the Zoning column at ripropinfo.com based on the zone the property is in. And even if you think the property does meet the requirements (which I'd actually be surprised if it did), I still think you should go ask the building department what they think.

  • Rental Property Investor 路 Modesto/Stockton/Merced, CA 路 Member since 2020 路 456 posts 路 214 votes
    6y

    Similiar situation. I had to contact the city and county appraiser to sort it out. It didn't cost me any $, but it could have. Reach out to the city and find out. 

    It really came down to permits, if there was any. 

  • Member since 2019 路 6 posts 路 0 votes
    6y

    @Anthony Thompson

    Thank you, this information is helpful. I see you are from Cranston and this property is on the Providence/Cranston line. I will make the trip to city hall qnd see what they have to say.

    The sellers, and both agents are convinced that this is a non-issue; but I need a little more assurance. The seller agent says he went to the zoning office today and was assured all will be fine.

    I am adjusting the P&S to indicate it is pending confirmation from zoning office.

  • Buy and Hold Investor 路 Cranston, RI 路 Member since 2013 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Jeremy Mortimore sounds like a great move 馃槉

  • Member since 2019 路 6 posts 路 0 votes
    6y

    @Anthony Thompson

    Are you aware of any local networking or meetup groups in the Providence area?

  • Buy and Hold Investor 路 Cranston, RI 路 Member since 2013 路 1k+ posts 路 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Jeremy Mortimore yes, the RI Real Estate Investors Group meets twice a month (Zoom right now of course). I鈥檝e been a member for the last 17 years and recommend it.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.