Why the Square Footage in a Listing May Not Match the Mortgage Appraisal
A home's advertised square footage can influence which properties buyers tour, how they compare asking prices, and what they expect from an appraisal. But the number in a real estate listing is not always the same as the living area reported by a mortgage appraiser. Differences can occur even when nobody intended to provide misleading information. Understanding why can help buyers evaluate a home more accurately. Square Footage Depends on What Is Counted Listings may draw measurements from tax records, prior listings, builder plans, or information supplied by the seller. Those sources do not always use the same definitions or…