Merging Two Properties

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Dante

Per chance there might be someone here who has experienced what I want to undertake, so before I seek legal counsel and pay out the wazoo for it, I'd like to pose a question here in hopes someone may have already "been there, done that."

I have an opportunity to purchase a home and property directly next door to my current residence. I've been considering building a new home in recent years, but I enjoy my present location as it is (although my house is very small).

What I would like to do is purchase the property next door and then tear down the house (which is in dire need of repair and remodeling), and also tear down my present house, and then merge both properties in to one and build a much larger home on the property.

What legal procedure do I need to go through, after the purchase of the property next door to mine, in order for for the property to be recognized as a single piece of property instead of two? How do I go about merging both properties as one so I'm not taxed for two properties?

Originally Posted by NotforSale

I'm an Insurance Agent and I deal with property, commercial and residential. Like others have mentioned, the first place I would start is your local County/City Assessor’s office.

Laws do vary from State/City/County, but good answers will come from those who work directly in the Government.

The next place I would contact would be a Title Company.

Good luck!

NFS gives some good advise here. I would like to add, you should examine the zoning in your city/county to see what the procedure will be. They will approve it with much less less hassle if you contact them in advance. It would also be a good idea to contact your councilman/alderman - especially if you know him.

Your taxes on the new house will likely be higher than the two older structures - but that is not avoidable.