When you are looking at buying properties in Charltote County . especially Bank-Owned Homes, a Buyer should check with the county (especially the Permitting and Code Enforcement offices). Since Hurricane Charlie in 2004 many property items were replaced, repaired and improvements made. In many instances, the homeowner did not pull a permit.
The County is looking for home where a permit was not pulled or it is expired. When the county finds violations, it is the responsibility of the current owner of the property to correct it. For example, if a roof was replaced without a permit, the County "could" require the current owner to tear off the roofing and replace it according to current codes.
In the case of bank Foreclosed properties, banks usually have in their paperwork that they are not going to fix anything. In most cases they will not address any permitting or zoning issues with the County. It is up to the Buyer to search out this
information, especially when a Buyer purchases a Bank Forclosed property. Items requiring permits include: reshingled roof, new windows and exterior doors, hot-water heater, hurricane shutters, electrical, garage converted to bedroom,....
In summary: If a property has permitting problems or code enforcement issues, then it is up to the Buyer (who becomes the current owner) of the property to straighten them out; and in some case may have to remove what was done and redo it to the current code. So Be careful! When you as a Buyer are looking at a Bank Forclosed or any property that has a lot of updates, make sure required Permists were applied for and closed.