Question regarding vacant building / living there.
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[{"id": "gkpp7mn", "text": "Check the zoning. Maybe it's been re zoned as mixed use. \n\nOld buildings are always a risk as you don't really know what's wrong until you start opening walls. Will this building need a ton of work? Have you thought about historic tax credits to help with financing? (If it's old enough). If it is considered historical you'll need to figure out which historical commissions govern what you can do with it. Your city probably has a local commission.", "replies": [{"id": "gkpptvp", "text": "So I would probably check the county auditor office and see what it's currently zoned as then?\n\nI'll check with the city on that as well then. Hopefully that doesn't affect adding signage.", "replies": [{"id": "gkprrcx", "text": "Historic regulations will almost certainly govern signage. \n\nYou can call or your city probably has a website and zoning map where you can find all this online.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gkppmmy", "text": "That question can only be answered by your city zoning department. Some cities would love the idea while others would hate it. The last thing you would want is for your building to he declared historical. That would restrict the modifications you could do in it. Some cities would even require replacements with materials and procedures used at the time the building was erected. I also hope you understand that is very likely you will not pay what the owner of the building paid in 1992 (unless is a town that is depressed and the building is a very rough shape compared to 30 years ago).", "replies": [{"id": "gkpq2f5", "text": "Oh I'm fully aware of that. I'm hoping that since it's been sitting for so long that I can get it at a cheaper price than normal and see what comes of it. \n\nThat a real fear about the building being historical if that's the case.", "replies": [{"id": "gkpsyvv", "text": "Usually when buildings have been sitting for sale a long time in the market is because the owner is looking for a price that is above the market. Still, you might be able to make the numbers work with changing the zoning. I would go to the city to see if it would be feasible without telling the owner. Also the city will very likely ask you to submit new plans (it means hiring an architect and a civil engineer) to make the modifications which would make the building acceptable for being residential.", "replies": [{"id": "gkpuqai", "text": "It's not for sale actually. But you can easily tell that it hasn't been used for much but storage atm. \n\nAh ok. Glad to know I may have to hire someone on that.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]