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Working with the town historian, she learned that her 2.7 acres had been part of a farm established by one John Sutton in the early 1700s and that a structure existed on the land in the 1730s. Schondorf presumed that her house included part of that original homestead—but now, after more digging, she’s unsure if Mr. Sutton ever lived within its walls. If your local library isn’t as helpful as you would like (or even if it is), the local building department should be your next stop. They will be able to provide insights around building codes and any possible violations that the home has — whether that’s because the rules changed or a previous owner broke the rules. Check out a local history book that covers the neighborhood where you’re house-hunting.
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While many types of property records are straightforward, others may be harder to make sense of. Luckily, there are professionals who look at these documents all the time, including real estate attorneys, escrow agents, and real estate agents. So, if you’ve started your search and have questions, be sure to reach out to your real estate agent or other trusted real estate professional. For some houses, looking up detailed public records will be very straightforward.
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If you really want to learn about an area, find a local historian or take a local tour. Even if the home isn’t an area with lots of tourism and tours, there will often be a local historical society, professor, or even just local history enthusiast who will be happy to share their insights with you. Hiring someone else to do the digging can be a great option if you have more money than time to spend on your property history research. Spanning a wide range of visual media, the USC Digital Library offers digital images of drawings, illuminated manuscripts, maps, photographs, posters, prints, rare illustrated books, as well as audio and video recordings. A portion of the images contained in the USC Digital Library come from the collections of collaborating institutions which, like USC, have valuable archival collections that are of interest to a wide range of people. The Southern California Library documents and makes accessible histories of struggles that challenge racism and other systems of oppression so we can all imagine and sustain possibilities for freedom.
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For detailed permit records, you’ll often have to request them in digital form or make an appointment to review the original copies at the building or planning counter. The historical society is one of many organizations around the country that work with homeowners to trace the histories of their homes. When starting your quest, D’Alonzo points out, don’t dive into old records looking for your own address. Street names, house numbers and lot designations frequently change over the years, so it’s a good idea to work backward from current records. To uncover the names of former owners or tenants, D’Alonzo also suggests checking old city directories, organized by address. Historical societies or libraries usually have them, and they are available through the present day.
Historical Research Maps: Plat Maps
With the wealth of information available online, you can often make significant progress in your research without even having to leave your house. Permits can tell you a lot about the original construction of the property and any later additions to the home. The city or county permitting department may have an online permit center, where you can search for current or past permits by address or parcel number. The Library of Congress (LOC) has digitized many maps—cities, towns, railroads and more—that can be useful in your search.
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Google searches for ‘sell my house’ hit highest rate in U.S. internet history.
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To help you, HouseNovel has designed a system that allows you to document your findings in chronological order, with basic property details at the top for easy reference. Join us as we dive into your house’s history and discover the stories that have shaped it into the place you call home today. Your house has a story to tell, and uncovering its history can be one of the most gratifying journeys you embark on.
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Knowing the history of your property can not only help you understand its current value, but it can also provide insight into any potential issues or maintenance needs that may arise in the future. Look for clues in the building materials - The materials used to construct your home can also provide clues about its age. For example, homes built before the 1950s often used plaster walls, while those built in the mid-20th century used drywall. Similarly, the type of wiring or plumbing used in your home can help you narrow down its age range.
Depending on the reason for the foreclosure, you can get a great deal on a property, especially if it’s preforeclosure or if you’re the first one to snap it up. Before you buy a house, confirm that no one has any claims on the property by using the LexisNexis Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.). This exchange gathers and reports up to seven years of claims against personal property, like a house or the land it’s on. DiedInHouse was founded by Roy Condrey when one of his tenants texted him in the middle of the night to ask, “Do you know your house is haunted? ” Condrey started to research online and discovered how difficult it was to uncover any information on the matter. The Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records is a wealth of information.
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He looked through area library files, read local history books and pored through county tax and property records. Along the way, he learned that his home is likely the oldest brick house in Williams County, Ohio, and was built by John Perkins, a War of 1812 veteran and one of the initial circuit judges appointed to the region. A property history search involves a review of the property’s ownership and public records history. The idea is to find any possible snags in the chain of ownership before they become a legal issue for the buyer.
Type in your address without the “avenue” or “street” to see if anything pops up, also try just the street name. Including the address doesn’t always happen when people donate photos, you’ll have to get creative with your searches. You can use the resources we’ve outlined below to find information about your home's history, including any previous owners or renovations.
Few former presidents have run for their old jobs – or anything else – after leaving office - Pew Research Center
Few former presidents have run for their old jobs – or anything else – after leaving office.
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They might have knowledge of the previous owners or be able to provide leads on how to find more information. 2) Search online property databases - This is where Ownerly or Neigherwho may be helpful, they usually pull the past owners but may not have a complete ownership record. Historic city directors are also a great place to find previous homeowners, we found these at the library. In the past, it was common for newspaper articles to include the address of individuals mentioned. Despite its discontinuation, this practice used to be a valuable tool for discovering information about your home. Talk to older residents in the area - Finally, talking to older residents in the area can be a great way to learn about the cultural and social context of the time period when your house was built.
This could include old maps, photos, or documents that describe how the land was used, who lived there, and what the area was like at the time. A county recorder’s office, which may also be called a county clerk’s office, locates all taxable property in the city or county. They identify ownership, establish a taxable value on the property, and record other documents, such as deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, and lien releases. “It’s easier to get info about the home—deeds, mortgages and so on,” she says, “than about the people, such as census lists,” which she peruses to learn personal details about tenants and owners. Glant recommends publicizing your curiosity, because neighbors and older community members will come out of the woodwork to tell you bits and pieces about your home’s history. Once you know an owner’s name, she suggests searching genealogical Internet sites for more information.
The property details listed will include the assessor’s parcel number (APN) or tax ID number and the year the house was built under the Public Facts section, among other details. Be sure to write down the APN or tax ID number, since you’ll be using this in many of the steps below. With all the steps you’re required to take during the homebuying experience, you may be forgetting to ask some very important questions, like when was the house built and what exactly is its history?
You can start by contacting your local historical society or visiting their website to see if they have any information on the history of your home. As we described earlier, the local parcel viewer is a great place to begin any property records search. The corresponding property report gives you a wealth of information on the house, including the year it was built, floor plans, photos, condition, lot size, and tax roll history. These records can give you details on the residents and their relationships over time. And if your property is on the city water and sewer system, you can check with your local planning department or inspections department for side sewer cards.
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