2 family home vs. 1 family home

Dear All Attesting to the fact that I was numb from the shock of signing my mortgage papers and/or to plain ignorance, I’m not sure if the designation of our house as a 2 family home was something we had the option to change.  It does in fact comprise 2 apartments (2 kitchens etc…..), but our family occupies them both.  Is there a mechanism to change the designation to a one family home? I know this is rather a stupid question, so I’m prepared for some snark on this, but any information would be appreciated.   Thanks JP

petrinij

in Mortgage 13 years and 8 months ago

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dazednconfused2 | 13 years and 8 months ago

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If I could perhaps preface Jock’s comment with “If you change the designation…”.  It is is true that you would need to file with the DOB to change the certificate of occupancy to a one family.  You would have to file plans documenting the whole house, indicating that it meets current codes, and if it doesn’t, then you’d need to do the work to bring it up to code.  Even if everything is up to code, the architect’s fees, expediter’s fees, DOB fees, etc, can easily add up to the $7k – $10k range.   This is obviously a lot of money if it makes no noticeable difference in the way you live. As much as I try to avoid it, I must agree with pig-three in this case.  You can go to the DOB to full the file on the house, or hire an expediter to do it for you.  I’d suggest the latter as this is not very expensive for most expediters and will save you hours of time off of work, not to mention the headache of dealing with the DOB.  See what is on file.  It may be an easy thing to file.  It may even be entirely unnecessary.

guikazoid | 13 years and 8 months ago

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The house we just purchased was a 2-family  but the title showed it as a 1-family.  The seller insisted it was a 2-family and said she has documentation to prove it.  While we waited to produce the documents, the realtor said there is a possibility we might not get approved for the mortgage since our initial conversation with the bank was that it was a 2-family house.  To make a long story, she found the documentation and it all went well.  Moral of the story, a 2-family house be easier to resell.  Leave it as a 2-family and occupy it as a 1.

Arkady | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Several real estate people, my atty, & others recommended that I use my house as a one but leave the c.of o. for 2 in place – might enhance resale value & there aren’t really any downsides to leaving it as is.

pigthree | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Architect on this fourm:  Stop advising people to spend money first and ask questions later. Check the actual file at the DOB to see what, if anything, is there regarding the configuration of your house. Also see if there is a C of O or if the DOB just lists the house as a two. Depending on many circumstance, you could have many options.  Drawings may not be necessary.

Boerumresident | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Some families like to have 2 kitchens.

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 8 months ago

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You will need drawings and a permit to process it though DOB.

tinarina | 13 years and 8 months ago

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You can keep it a two-family or change it to a one-family by pulling out a kitchen–specifically the stove and sink. An expeditor can help you with this. Taxes are the same for a 2 or 1 family so there’s no real need to change it. Many people have multifamily homes but use them as a single-fam. If you sell it, a future buyer may like the 2-family designation. It’s relatively easy to lower the number of units, but more work to go up.