There are often issues which need to be examined at the local building department or planning department. As a prudent buyer, you should be aware of what's going on in the neighborhood, and determine how that will affect your future enjoyment and resale value of your home/investment. If you use a little common sense, and keep your eyes open in looking around the neighborhood, the big issues will usually be visible.
If you see apartment buildings under construction nearby, you might be a little wary about the future of your "private" backyard...if a neighboring property owner decides to build a three story building next door to the house you were going to buy at a later date, you might lose that privacy. This is a particularly irritating issue to me, when buyers buy next door to a site that is zoned for larger buildings, then the adjacent owner applies to do the development, and all of a sudden, all the neighbors feel they have a say in what gets built on someone else's property. Well, we say that if it was zoned for that type of use when you bought next door to it, then you made the mistake of buying in the wrong location. Of course, a change of the allowable use concerns all nearby property owners, and is an entirely different situation.
Conversely, if you see yourself adding a second story to your future home, you better find what's involved in the addition. Zoning, art juries, planning rulings, view corridors...any number of issues might come between you and your second story. Find out in advance of buying. Your "physical inspection" period allows for you an out through this contingency.
Do your homework as a good buyer....this work rests on your shoulders, not your agent's.
For quick questions, feel free to send a note and one of our real estate professionals will be in contact with you shortly!
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