I would list such a property both as a single-family home with what we call "in-law" potential, and as a multi-family, assuming that the separate apartments do not violate any local zoning ordinances. Check on this at your local Town Hall before you decide to list your home. As agents we must be careful not to mis-represent features of properties we list - a use or improvement or modification that has never been challenged may still be illegal under current building codes. Mid-Hudson MLS - perhaps other MLSs also? - allow this kind of duplicate listing for the same property. Good luck!

Stephanie Patton

My home fits your 1st decription.....it has a LR,MBR,full bath,laundry room & although it has a kitchen it does not have a stove so its not a legally defined kitchen....it has access from within the home as well as from the outside....I recently recieved my C of O so everything is legal and meets or exceeds the current bldg code....I could make it a "legal" 2 family but was advised that this would limit its potential buyers market...

Thanks for your answers....(-:

Gail is right and to clarify my answer... A Mother Daughter Area (Not a legal description) is one that is accessed from inside the home that has Living Room, Bedroom, Full Bath. Not Usually a kitchen. An Access apartment is an apartment also accessed from inside the home with 2nd Kitchen.

Any finished area needs to be legal and have Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance.

If you do not have access from inside the home it sounds like you have an illegal apartment. Otherwise your house would be a two family home. If you have access from inside the home you need a C of O or a C of C.

There is no legal entity "mother/daughter."

If you have a legal accessory apartment, your Realtor must list the Permit # in the listing.

if you have a legal 2 or 3 Family dwelling, your Realtor will list it as such.

If these apartments are not legal, your Realtor may not indicate in any way that they exist or your Realtor will be held responsible. If you sell your property with illegal apartments, they must be taken down before the property is examined by the bank's Appraiser.

Illegal apartments are Illegal.

Depending on which MLS you are listed in there is not a category for a Mother/Daughter or Single Family home with an access apartment. It is listed as a single family and noted in the remarks that it is a Mother Daughter or has an access apartment. Realtors can search remarks for the words and find it. Make sure your Realtor has those words in the remarks so they can be searched and thats the best that can be done.