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Somerville, Massachusetts

14 Highland Ave #3 (illustrative sample)

Love the light — first clear the shared roof, the second bedroom, and lead docs.

CondoListed as 2 bed · 1 bath1,080 sq ftBuilt 1915Illustrative example

Offer deadline

Mon 5:00 PM

≈ 36 hours left · listed Wed

Before you offer

The 3 catches that could change your offer

Will a roof special assessment hit you after closing?

Could change first-year cash need, monthly carrying cost, and whether a lender likes this building.

Cost+

What we know

Sample board minutes (Sep 2026) say the association is collecting bids to replace the common roof. No vote to approve work or a special assessment appears in the materials we have.

What's still unknown

Scope, total cost, and your unit's share
Reserve balance and whether an assessment is planned
Whether lenders will treat the project as a red flag

Copy-ready question for the listing agent

“Please share the latest condo budget, reserve study or reserve balance, any roof bids, and related board minutes. Has a special assessment been approved or discussed? If so, what is Unit 3's share and timing?”

Next step

Request the condo packet before you offer if you can; otherwise keep a condo-doc review period in the offer and ask your lender how they underwrite buildings with pending capital work.

Can the "2nd bedroom" actually count as a bedroom?

You need two bedrooms. The answer affects how you live here — and how an appraiser compares the unit.

Verify+

What we know

The listing describes two bedrooms. The sample assessor card lists one. We have no building-department confirmation for a second legal bedroom.

What's still unknown

Whether the second room meets egress and legal-occupancy rules
Whether any permit or final inspection exists for the conversion
How an appraiser will treat the unit for comps

Copy-ready question for the listing agent

“The listing says two bedrooms; the assessor card shows one. Can you provide the permit, final inspection, or other documentation that the second room is a legal bedroom? If not on file, which city office should we call?”

Next step

Confirm before you lock your offer strategy. A mismatch is not proof of an illegal unit — it is a reason to verify with the building department and your attorney.

Lead paint docs are missing for a pre-1978 home

If a child under 6 will live here, Massachusetts requires deleading or interim controls within 90 days of taking title.

Watch+

What we know

Built 1915 (assessor). Lead paint notification and any inspection reports have not been provided in this sample.

What's still unknown

Whether a lead inspection has ever been done
What work would be required before a child under 6 can occupy
Cost and timing of any needed controls

Copy-ready question for the listing agent

“Please provide the Massachusetts lead paint notification and any lead inspection or Letter of Compliance for this unit. A child under 6 may live here.”

Next step

You have at least 10 days for a lead inspection after you receive the required notice — you can ask for longer in your offer. Budget time (and possibly cash) before move-in if a child under 6 is part of the plan.

Make the next move

Who to ask & when

Confirm	Ask	When
Roof plan & any special assessment	Listing agent · association · lender	Before you offer; keep condo-doc review in the offer
Second bedroom legal status	Listing agent · building department · attorney	Before you set price or walk-away terms
Lead paint notice & reports	Listing agent · lead inspector	Request before Monday; schedule inspection after notice
Condo 6(d) certificate	Listing agent · association	Needed for most condo closings — request early

Deadlines and contingencies depend on your actual offer and advice from your attorney.

A consistent framework

Coverage across 8 categories

What you're buying

Bedroom mismatch — priority

Cash & carrying cost

Not covered in this sample

Association & shared risk

Roof assessment — priority

Environment & health

Lead docs — priority

Septic & wells

On town sewer — N/A

Condition on record

Not covered in this sample

Contract & exits

Not covered in this sample

Fit for living

Not covered in this sample

Coverage progress is not a safety score. It shows which answers that could change your decision are still missing.

Know what you know

Evidence list

Sample listing sheet

Price, beds, and sq ft are fictional; lists 2 bedrooms.

Provided

Sample assessor card

Shows 1 bedroom — conflicts with listing.

Conflicting

Sample board minutes (excerpt)

Mentions collecting roof bids; not an approved assessment.

Provided

Condo budget, reserves & 6(d)

Cannot judge assessment size or financing impact yet.

Not yet provided

Lead paint notice & reports

Cannot judge pre-move-in work for a child under 6.

Not yet provided

Demo materials only. No real property files were used.

Every house has a catch. Get the questions before Monday's deadline.

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