Dear Monty: I told the selling agent that the home on the MLS (multiple listing service) is falsely listing the square footage. They are advertising 1,650 square feet of livable space, but I checked with the township, and they state the house is 1,446 square feet. I put in an offer based on the actual square footage. They have other offers, but those buyers do not know the advertising is false. The listing agent wants to hold my bid until the other offers come in. Is this illegal or unethical? Also, is the false advertisement on the MLS illegal?
Monty’s Answer: There are several conceivable possibilities regarding the square footage discrepancy that may explain why there are 204 square feet unaccounted for in the township records:
