Firewall/Ceiling for Basement Garage

[Meandering]

Mark,

I appreciate your sentiment as well, however, in the real world, when these things get reviewed, being able to see the large door and the tax records saying it's a garage is going to cause an issue.

I've completed a pretty good share of FHA work myself. And I have no issue with addressing the safety issue of having a car running in the basement. I am just suggesting that the discrepancy with the public records be addressed in the report so that any future reviewer can see the thought processes of the OP.

And when it is a matter of safety or structural issues, yes you can call out for a cost to cure which might include some remodeling. That is exactly why there is a 203k and streamline loan, to put the property in the proper condition to meet all MPRs.

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[mark hurlock]

Mark,

I appreciate your sentiment as well, however, in the real world, when these things get reviewed, being able to see the large door and the tax records saying it's a garage is going to cause an issue.

I've completed a pretty good share of FHA work myself. And I have no issue with addressing the safety issue of having a car running in the basement. I am just suggesting that the discrepancy with the public records be addressed in the report so that any future reviewer can see the thought processes of the OP.

And when it is a matter of safety or structural issues, yes you can call out for a cost to cure which might include some remodeling. That is exactly why there is a 203k and streamline loan, to put the property in the proper condition to meet all MPRs.

.

In the real world, it is not an issue for me. I would agree with either approach the appraiser decide to take as long as they explain their reasoning. I would not advise anyone what they should do, only options that are reasonable.

I would be particularly in favor of it being a full basement if there are no comps in the market with similar features, no firewalls and there is combustion equipment in the basement. I forgot to mention the required slope in the floor to drain to the outside.

I might favor conditioning to repair if similar comps have basement garages with all the adequate features to qualify it as a garage and it was feasibly curable.

In comparison, I would not call a room with a bed a bedroom if it had no window regardless of what the tax records say. I would not call a 5' high finished attic gross living area because the tax records called it finished.

A feature should adequately function and appraisers should use sound reasoning when making extraordinary decisions.