We had already talked about that one. It's a 1900 Victorian. Much bigger than I wanted, and I had no idea he was even interested in such a style which I called him out on. "I don't care about style. I just like interesting houses." First time this little tidbit was revealed despite all the conversations we've had ever.
I also noticed the price dropped 10K, and was now labeled a short sale. There were other things that I wasn't thrilled about at all with that place, but he still seemed intent. I was worried it was the price attracting him, he says that's part of it, but not all. After that house comes up again in our usual chat when he's settling in to bed, he says offhand that maybe it wouldn't hurt to take a look at it even though he still wants to do the backup offer on the bungalow. (Had a VM from the Selling Agent yesterday who is away for the weekend, she said she thinks the offer they got is a cash offer.)
So I do the usual check the tax card and online documents related, and along the way I noticed this on one site's listing (emphasis mine):
Tax History
Year Property taxes Change Tax assessment Change
- 2016 $2,432 +4.3% $118,800 +1.8%
2015 $2,332 -35.2% $116,700 -38.8%
2014 $3,600 -0.4% $190,800 -7.8%
2013 $3,614 +5.9% $207,000 +1.1%
2012 $3,412 +10.3% $204,700 +3.8%
2011 $3,092 +2.1% $197,300 -3.1%
2010 $3,027 +0.6% $203,700 -11.5%
2009 $3,009 -0.8% $230,200 -8.1%
2008 $3,032 +1.2% $250,400 -2.8%
2007 $2,997 +2.4% $257,500 +8.3%
2006 $2,926 -- $237,700 --
That plunge from 2014-2015 makes me itch. It does creep up a bit this year, but....wow that leaves me with a bad feeling.
Current owner bought property from another relative in 2001 (PO then turned around and paid off a medical debt from records I found.) Owner separated from partner he initially got the home with (both on mortgage) in 2014. (Apparently she was quite unhappy with him. She reworded the usual deed for a less that $100 value to "for no consideration paid" which the official made her asterisk to a comment with the usual wording.
Both are now living in CT, at different addresses. No idea when they moved, as they were living in Gardner at another address at the time of purchase.Supposedly the heating and a bath have been "updated", as well as windows
. It also seems that at some point they divided it at least electrically for an apartment within, though nothing about two kitchens on the info I've found, just two full baths. I also can't find any permits in the area reserved for such on the tax card, so no idea when that was done.What could have possibly caused the assessor to decide on such a downturn in value? Was it the splitting into two units?
Spouse wants to take a stroll by it on his day off, and there's not many pictures to go by. I want to call the listing agent first just to see if all systems are functioning, because I already know spouse does not want to get a 203K. From the few pictures available, peeling paint and such will mean no FHA loan possible anyhoo since banks are known for refusing to do any repairs on short sales.
Copper for any thoughts or guesses.
Link to the listing: http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/34-glazier-st,-gardner,-ma-01440_rb/?fromHomePage=true&shouldFireSellPageImplicitClaimGA=false&fromHomePageTab=buy
