[quote author="bkshopr" date=1248172406]Access to second floor required a minimal stairs area of 4'x14' out of your current ground floor.
Tear up old roof and add a new roof on second floor.
Additional loading requires the strengthening of foundation due to heavy bathroom criteria.
Lack of ground floor shear wall for second story addition.
Rip out existing roof rafters and replace with floor joists.
Heavy up existing walls for upstairs weight.
50 other additional items too lengthy to mention.
If you have the land then single story rear addition to the back is the cheapest.</blockquote>
This is also why you see so many fugly 2nd story additions over garages. It is cheapest to tear out an existing garage, and then re-build with a second story properly supported, than to try to add a 2nd story over the existing residential portion of the house.
<strong>god I hate those fugly additions, particularly when they dominate the front of the house.</strong>
<img src="http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/46/bigphoto/355/S553355_0.jpg" alt="" />
<blockquote>FIXER! Great buy. This home has tons of potential, fixer, needs work! Formal Living room with fireplace. 4+ bedrooms, 2 story, 2 Car garage and close to campus. Halecrest home. Property is sold 'as is'. Tax assessor shows 1,127 square feet, there is additional space may not be permitted.</blockquote>