Illegal ADU on an FHA order

[Tom4value]

Asking what zoning is and what it does or does not allow. Is different than "Hey Mr zoning inspector. This house has a ADU. Is it legal?"

Both are not just ok, both are your job! Again, only your opinions and conclusions pertaining to the subject property is confidential information that cannot be shared with anyone but your client. Factual information is not confidential. The presence of an ADU is factual. It doesn’t matter who knows about it. You can tell anyone the square footage of a house because it is factual information. However, you cannot tell anyone but the client that you determine that the small size is adverse to marketability. That is confidential because it is your opinion that you were hired to give.

Finding out the legality of a component of a property that will affect marketability and/or market value is our job. Sure, a homeowner can get angry that you “ratted them out” but you cannot be held liable for it. However, you CAN and WILL be held liable if a client lends money on a property that the client is adversely affected by because you failed to inform them about an adverse condition.

 

[Dublin ohio]

both are your job!

I know of nothing in appraisal standards or requirements that say it is my job to be zoning enforcement or the local Karen.

 

[Tom4value]

I know of nothing in appraisal standards or requirements that say it is my job to be zoning enforcement or the local Karen.

Who said anything about zoning enforcement? Did I say issue a cease and desist? No. Did I say issue a fine? No. I said to report to your client what you found out that would affect marketability and market value. Karens keep their appraisal license.

 

[Dublin ohio]

Who said anything about zoning enforcement? Did I say issue a cease and desist? No. Did I say issue a fine? No. I said to report to your client what you found out that would affect marketability and market value. Karens keep their appraisal license.

WTF are you ranting about. The post I have been referring to says that the appraiser told zoning about an illegal ADU at a specific address that zoning was not aware of. How does that help you in reporting to your client what you found out.

 

[Tom4value]

WTF are you ranting about. The post I have been referring to says that the appraiser told zoning about an illegal ADU at a specific address that zoning was not aware of. How does that help you in reporting to your client what you found out.

You are implying that you found an illegal ADU and you are reporting it to the zoning office. No, that is not what is happening. You have a subject property with an ADU and you are inquiring if it is legal or not so you can determine any effect on market value and marketability and reporting your findings in your report.

Just to be clear, are you saying that if your subject has an ADU, you won't check with zoning office to check on its legality?

 

[Dublin ohio]

You are implying that you found an illegal ADU and you are reporting it to the zoning office. No, that is not what is happening

That is exactly what happened in the post I am referring to

Just to be clear, are you saying that if your subject has an ADU, you won't check with zoning office to check on its legality?

99.9% of the time I can check on the zoning conformance of a property without divulging the address of that property.

 

[Tom4value]

That is exactly what happened in the post I am referring to


99.9% of the time I can check on the zoning conformance of a property without divulging the address of that property.

Really? You can check on building permits, variances and special permits without divulging an address? Amazing!

 

[Dublin ohio]

Really? You can check on building permits, variances and special permits without divulging an address? Amazing!

Yep. It's called the internet. In most of my areas I can look up building permits, zoning, variances, etc. If I have to do it by address. I can ask if there are any permits, variances or special permits without divulging anything about the physical characteristics of the property. Not very amazing. Just knowing how to ask the question the right way.

 

[Tom4value]

Yep. It's called the internet. In most of my areas I can look up building permits, zoning, variances, etc. If I have to do it by address. I can ask if there are any permits, variances or special permits without divulging anything about the physical characteristics of the property. Not very amazing. Just knowing how to ask the question the right way.

Well, in these parts, those things are in the Building Inspector's Offices only. So if you have a specific question about a specific property, you are SOL because you don't want to ask a public official about public information about a property.

Climbing out of the rabbit hole, any factual information is not bounded by confidentiality. Remember, any you question you have about information about a property that the Building Inspector will tell you is, by definition, public factual data. They will tell you if it is legal or not. You don't make that determination.

 

[Dublin ohio]

Well, in these parts, those things are in the Building Inspector's Offices only. So if you have a specific question about a specific property, you are SOL because you don't want to ask a public official about public information about a property.

You really need to work on your reading comprehension. You can ask the question "are there any building permits on file" or "is there a building permit for an ADU". I choose the former. You do you.