Seller's Broker Misrepresented a House

We are currently in contract on a brownstone. We planned to do only minor renovations since we can’t afford to overhaul the entire house currently. The seller’s broker told us repeatedly its a legal two family house with the garden unit rental. We had the inspection and went into contract and hired an architect to help us out. Our architect informed us the house is a legal two family but the rental unit is legally supposed to be the top floor according to the C of O. The house is nowhere near configured that way. We were lied to and yet, no one seems to think its a big deal. We can’t afford the costs of changing the C of O and all the renovations that the Dept of Buildings will request. What are our options? And can we hold the seller’s agent accountable for misrepresenting the property?

gxcovowjegmls

in General Discussion 7 years and 11 months ago

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22 replies

daveinbedstuy | 7 years and 11 months ago

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A few questions: Is your bank OK with it? Sometimes banks won’t lend if the cinfiguration doesn’t match the C of O. Secondly, if you are only doing minor renovations, if permits are not required you should be fine. Also, what is your lawyer saying about this? You should have a lawyer that is experienced in BROOKLYN real estate which involves issues like this that most Manhattan RE attorneys have never come across.

BobMarvin | 7 years and 11 months ago

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Would this be sufficient grounds to cancel the contract?