Buying a house with unpermitted renos

Only if you are changing the framing do you need a permit for replacing windows, and really, only if you are making them larger. Smaller doesn't matter cause your header would remain the same. Unless of course something changed in the code that I missed.

...and the may be the straw...structural repairs needed, so severe classified a "life hazard".  $20-30k.    Very Dissaponted. 

In 20 years in real estate I've never seen structural issues called a "life hazard".   It sounds pretty bad. I am so sorry.

But I have seen structural repairs cost a lot more than 20 to 30K - and when done the house was better than new.

I have also seen some houses with structural issues that were not fixable and the only thing to do was walk away.

My question is,  are these issues fixable.   And, if they are fixable and the seller was willing to address them would you still want the house.  If the answer is yes, then before you walk away ask the seller to address them. 

If the seller really wants to sell he will have to address this - if not for you then for the next buyer.

Edited to add:  I just re-read this thread .  I've been trying to give this thing the benefit of the doubt, but this house sounds like a disaster.   My advice would be to walk. 

If this house doesn't work don't despair.  When things don't work out it's usually because there is something better waiting for you.  You just haven't found it.

Good luck.

georgieboy said:

Only if you are changing the framing do you need a permit for replacing windows, and really, only if you are making them larger. Smaller doesn't matter cause your header would remain the same. Unless of course something changed in the code that I missed.

 When we had our windows replaced maybe eight years ago, the guy pulled a permit. Why would he do that if he didn't have to? And all he did was pull out the old windows and put in new ones. No change to size at all.