In an effort to stem the tide of "overcrowded" homes in the Santa Clarita area, the city's Code Enforcement personnel will begin doing sweeps of Santa Clarita neighborhoods looking for illegal garage conversions. This is in response to an escalating number of complaints that as many as 10-20 people are living in some of the area's homes, which can create a neighborhood nuisance with the extra cars, piles of trash, noise and traffic that this overcrowding can generate. Click here for more information on these sweeps and what areas will be covered.

This is just a reminder to make sure that you know whether additions to a home or garage conversions were legally done (as in done with permits) before you buy a home. Although you may have already fallen in love with the home, and may choose to buy it anyways, at least you'll know that you have a potential liability if the Code Enforcement people show up at your door. For more information on buying a home with unpermitted additions, click here.

Linda Slocum

SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com