FHA Square footage question

[Vermonter]

Walkup attic access from a bathroom is not unusual in older homes around here. I've probably seen it a couple dozen times over the years.

Never had one that was converted to living space tho. It absolutely can be included as finished space, however the utility of it may have some impact on value.

 

[Sadie]

Agree with Vermonter, I have seen several with access through a bedroom, but none that I can remember through a bathroom.

 

[Vermonter]

Agree with Vermonter, I have seen several with access through a bedroom, but none that I can remember through a bathroom.

I'd say 50/50 bedroom/bathroom here. It's usually always in a home with a central staircase facing front and in the room upper left of the stairs. Bathroom will be closest to the kitchen plumbing stack so could be front or back depending

 

[Tom D]

There is a line on the grid that is mostly ignored. It's called functional utility. It's like walking thru a room to us a bathroom. So you count as GLA, but can mention it and adjust for the walk thru.

The only ussue is the stip, can you provide a similar sale with that issue. If you can, it's done.
If you can't, kinda explain that listings don't usually show this type of situation. yada yada.
Just don't give it a lot of credit. If there is another bathroom to use, then the affect is lessened. But it's also relative to the house size, bath count. Extra space is more valuable in a small house.

 

[Mark K]

Hi-I am appraising a 1920 bungalow-long. The attic space has been finished to very livable quality but the stairs to access 2nd floor is through the bathroom. Can this be counted in square footage or finished attic space? Thanks in advance.

It can if the upper level sloping ceiling (assumed) meets ANSI.
It would suffer functional obsolescence; not sure how you'd support the adjustment but the typical buyer would certainly take it into account.
BTW, I have seen a lot of strange floor plans but never one with a staircase to the upper level in the bathroom.
Good Luck!

 

[Sadie]

I'd say 50/50 bedroom/bathroom here. It's usually always in a home with a central staircase facing front and in the room upper left of the stairs. Bathroom will be closest to the kitchen plumbing stack so could be front or back depending

When have seen it here, the staircase is in the rear inside a closet usually. And because its an old house, the bathroom (1 only) is tacked on behind the kitchen. I always thought coming down in the middle of the night to use the bathroom would be weird.

 

[glenn walker]

We have literally wasted weeks on FHA appraisal questions from posters who don't want to post pictures of the issue.

You waste weeks because you over think and complicate it. F/0 is normal for 100 year bungalows. Owned ones that had the bathroom door in the kitchen. What the OP has is called a Utility Bath that has access to both floors. A great plan for a teenager's or college age person with their own bath and finished attic and safe space. You value it like any other finished attic area. No need to make a big deal out of nothing.

 

[Overimprovement]

To actually answer the OP's question--finished attic space, not GLA. Derive adjustment from comparing to other homes with finished attic access through a bathroom.

 

[glenn walker]

To actually answer the OP's question--finished attic space, not GLA. Derive adjustment from comparing to other homes with finished attic access through a bathroom.

AND WHERE DOES SOMEONE FIND THAT 100 YEAR OLD FLOOR PLAN ? I almost can't take it. Lol )

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

An attic is not GLA.