How to Check the History of Your House (14 Methods)
Katherine Young
Lookup the Residential History!
You may get curious about a house’s history for several reasons, whether you are interested in buying or renting a place, or pondering about your ancestral home and how it came to be, when was it bought by your forefathers, etc. It may also be the case that you are simply captivated by a beauty or a story behind a certain property, or you may be investigating something related to a particular house.
Intelius is a reverse lookup tool that can help find details about a certain place by looking up an address. This reverse lookup tool is powerful enough to provide details on possible neighbors.
After trying every possible way for about a week and recalling experiences from my past when I had to look up house histories, I curated a list of the 14 best methods. You can use any of these procedures you deem fitting for your type of property and use case.
Method 1: Find your house history by using third-party tools
Here are some of the most helpful third-party tools and sites I have encountered. I tried numerous sites and applications before shortlisting them. Therefore, the ones that made to this list provided the most truthful outcomes than the rest.
1) Intelius
Intelius is a reverse lookup tool that can help find details about a certain place by looking up an address. You can enter the house’s street address, along with the city and state, to get a detailed report.
I used several reverse lookups for address search but found Intelius better as it is US-focused. Hence, it was already a narrowed-down result, which ensured more accuracy.
Features:
- Ownership History: Using Intelius, I discovered the current and previous owners of a property, its value, and its assessed value over time. I also got reports on almost all past residents who had rented the place, floor plans of the house, and deed information.
- Neighbors and Neighborhood: This reverse lookup tool is powerful enough to provide details on possible neighbors. It also provided crime statistics of the location, nearby sex offenders, etc., such information can help you determine if you really want to purchase a property in a certain area.
- Location details: With just three pieces of information, I could find complete location details such as county, congressional district, longitude, latitude, location type, and more.
7-Day Trial at $0.95
Here are the steps that I followed to lookup a house history using Intelius:
Step 1) First, I visited the Intelius website and went to the address lookup option: https://www.intelius.com/reverse-address-lookup/.
Step 2) Then I typed the street, city, and state name in the respective fields and hit Search.
Step 3) I was then asked to enter my name and email address and received the report by paying for a 7-day trial for just $0.95.
I suggest you use its paid trial first before you subscribe to its monthly plan.
7-Day Trial at $0.95
Spokeo is a reverse address tool that helps uncover detailed information about a property by searching an address. This powerful tool not only reveals ownership history and property details but also provides insights into possible neighbors and neighborhood demographics.
2) DiedInHouse.com
DiedInHouse provides full details of deaths that occurred on a property and the reason for those deaths, such as if it was a murder, natural causes, suicide, accident, etc. It is important for you to check this as usually, you may not want to move into a house if you consider unnatural deaths as bad energy, etc.
You can also find out if it was a dump site or a chemical testing lab or if any fire incidents took place. While using it, I also got reports on names associated with an address, a sex offender who lived there before, and other property details.
Here are the steps I used to get house details from this site:
Step 1) I went to its website https://diedinhouse.com/, typed the address and the apartment name, and clicked on the magnifying glass icon.
Step 2) This led me to a pricing page where I paid $11.99 for a single search and received the details.
In my opinion, it is quite expensive; therefore, use it only if it is a dire situation and no other site comes up with truthful details.
Link: https://diedinhouse.com/
3) HouseNovel
HouseNovel is designed for people to save and share house history; it also combines all the historical data of a house to provide details. I used it to find out about my old ancestral home in Alaska and learned that it was owned by a copper mine owner back in the early 1900s and was later taken over by my grandfather and renovated in the 1970s.
This site can help you lookup any house address in the United States, especially if it is an old estate.
Here are steps to find house history using HouseNovel:
Step 1) You can start by going to https://housenovel.com/ and typing the property’s address.
Step 2) Then you can add other details like the year it was built and how many beds and baths are in the house. I also found information on this site about the same property shared by people who have lived there or resided next to it.
Link: https://housenovel.com/
4) Historic Aerials by NETRonline
Historic Aerials by NETRonline provides a history of real estate that includes records from the past till the present. This site presented a full view of a property through aerial photographs which showed all the corners of the area.
What I liked the most about Historic Aerials was how factual its data is and how it analyzed, compared, and detected changes. It not only provided the whole layout of the property but also showed features that were destroyed or no longer existed.
Here’s how you can get property details using Historic Aerials:
Step 1) You can start by visiting https://historicaerials.com/ and by going to View Images on this page.
Step 2) Now provide the geo-coordinates or the street address and click on go. This will change the map to the location you want to visit digitally.
Step 3) Now, come to the sidebar, select Aerials and the year you want to visit, and keep zooming in till you get a clear view of the property.
Note: You have to pay for printing or downloading the images and the price varies based on the file size for prints, and, file type, and year for downloads.
Link: https://historicaerials.com/
5) Property and Real Estate Record Search by Realtor.com
Property and Real Estate Record Search by Realtor.com is a platform where you can search properties for rent, sale, or that are off-market. All you have to do is enter your address, zip code, city, neighborhood, or other places like schools, institutions, etc.
It helped me narrow down my Search with its state listings, which lets you look for houses state-wise. I also found places that were available for rent in a specific place within the state. It also let me select the county and city to be more precise. One of the best features that it had were the filters like price, property type, rooms, etc., which led me to the types of houses I was looking to rent.
Follow these steps to find a property using this site:
Step 1) First you can visit its website https://www.realtor.com/propertyrecord-search and type the location name or go to the listing and find the house by going through it thoroughly.
Step 2) Here, you can view the properties’ results, use the filter, and find the ones that meet your budget.
Apart from looking up places to rent, I also used its My Home feature to find out estimates of our family homes.
Link: https://www.realtor.com/propertyrecord-search
Method 2: Use the Local Accessor’s office
Visiting the Local assessor’s office is also a helpful method since such offices in counties keep a complete record of all estates under their jurisdiction.
Most accessor’s office provides property details on their website; hence, if you cannot find the time to visit, I suggest you check their online resource. In my case, I couldn’t find the record online, hence, I called them up and they mailed me copies of some documents and charged a small fee.
Method 3: Check Census Records
Old Census records include truthful information about houses, such as who lived in a certain property decades ago, who bought it later, etc. You will come across details like their birth date, marriage, migration year, and more. However, you must know that the census records are kept confidential for up to 72 years for privacy reasons.
That means you will not be able to find certain information in Census Records unless it is your details or your immediate ancestors. Additionally, in the records for the years from 1790-1840, only the head of the household is named.
Method 4: Use the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management has over 5 million land title records. Its vast data lets you find images of original land papers signed by owners while handing them to private individuals dating back to 1788. You can also view property boundaries like survey plats, field notes, and land patents.
The details can be found by using the patentee’s name, state name, survey number, and date of issue. You can also use small details of the property, like the range number in a township or house number.
Method 5: Use the National Registry of Historic Places
If you are looking up an address of a property that has been preserved for years or has great value as a landmark you should try the National Registry of Historic Places. On this platform, you will find more than 95,000 properties listed since its establishment in 1966.
It offers a national archive (NARA) search where you can look for properties by reference number, state, keywords, and more On this website I found resources like National Historic Landmarks (NHL), Multiple Property Submission (MPL), and Federal Determinations of Eligibility (DOEs) to find property listings. You can also download common search data, spatial data (GIS), and NARA datasets.
Method 6: Genealogy website
Genealogical sites like Family Search, The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Cindy’s List, and Ancestry.com can be valuable for your house history lookup. These platforms shall offer you with details about previous owners, names associated with the house, and more.
NARA includes archives of full American history records, while Family Search can provide your ancestorial history. Cindy’s list lets you uncover your heritage and includes links to 70,000 genealogical sites, and Ancestry.com allows you to build your family tree and find where you are from using its AncestryDNA feature.
Method 7: Go through Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Online checklist offers a searchable database of fire insurance. These maps are updated consistently, and they are arranged by release date, state, and city. These maps have complete details of the buildings that existed on that particular release date. The details include their size, shape, materials used, purpose and function of the building, etc.
I found these maps in the Library of Congress where I came across maps that were around 100 years old, dating back to 1913. These maps are designed in a very complex and specific way to help fire insurance companies. However, you can use them to look up house history, fire incidents, renovations made, etc.
Method 8: Visit your local library
Local libraries have ample information about old houses and landmarks. They keep an archive of the historical society, local census records, old newspapers, historic books about the region, pictures or drawings of historic events, etc. The local libraries might also have digitized versions of history archives and newspapers, therefore you can find details in both hardcopy and softcopy format.
This one time, I was looking to rent a beautiful property listed on Airbnb for a staycation in my town and saw some reviews saying that it was haunted. Hence, I thought of digging deeper into this by going on Google, but the information was clustered. So, I went to the Town library and found a book on local hauntings and a folder in their system dedicated to news sections of supernatural events in and around the town. Turns out it has driven out three families that lived there, and priests were called to cleanse the property, and it was renovated into an Airbnb with additional bathrooms, balconies, etc.
Please note that before I went to the library, I got on a call with their management to put out the books and archives related to my investigation. You can do this to save your time instead of searching through thousands of resources.
Method 9: Ask the previous owner
Another useful method for learning about a house’s history is to contact the previous owner. Ask for all the details about the house, such as why they are selling, its condition, how the utilities function, and any leakages or wiring issues.
You must also be careful not to believe everything that they tell you. It is obvious that they will only mention the good parts since they want to sell the house.
Method 10: Explore the home and yard for clues
Going to a property to collect first-hand details also helps you identify its age, as you may find visible rusted pipes, weak frames, chipping paints, etc. Visits, as such, let you inspect the place in person, like exploring the backyard, the rooms, neighborhoods, and convenient places within a short distance.
From my experience, whenever I wanted to rent a place, it looked quite different in person. Sometimes, the pictures looked shabby due to the lighting, but once I visited, it felt quite home-like and even had beautiful settings. At the same time, some grand-looking houses appeared nothing like their pictures in real life.
Method 11: Ask your Realtor
Ask your realtor if there is any historic significance or any ancient details that have been left out. This could be related to any positive or negative history, a good realtor will be able to get you trustworthy sources and details or even help you get in touch with previous owners to spill some information.
Method 12: Ask the Neighbors
Neighbors always have extra details that the owners or the seller may not inform you of. Not every piece of information will be 100% true, but there will be some truth to it. This may consist of some incidents in the house or issues with utilities that the previous owners complained about.
There’s other important local information that you can extract from the neighbors like the best school nearby, closest supermarket, nearest best places to eat, safety issues, etc.
You can also find out about the owner’s behavior toward tenants from the neighbors if you are going to rent the place. Talking to them can also give you an idea about how friendly your neighborhood is and if they will welcome new people in the area.
Method 13: Try Title Search
Title Search is going to be obligatory if you are purchasing a house. You can do it yourself using publicly available websites or pay to get it done professionally. Conducting a title search will take you through the tax records and show you the previous owners of the house from the time it was built till the date.
Method 14: Google the address
If you are looking to own some ancient manor or vila they certainly will have a history available on Google on several websites. You can also look up building names and cottages on Google and find their history and other important details.
For example, you may find out that some apartments were built on burial grounds, or come across disaster news and renovations, etc. You can also find images of the property on Google easily and learn more about its history through pictures.
Why is it important to understand the history of a property before purchasing it?
Here’s why you must learn about the history of a property before you purchase it:
- To understand the value: Looking at its history you will be able to understand if the house is really worth its price or if you can find better properties for the same price in the same location.
- Age and condition: With the help of historical detail you can calculate the amount you will have to spend on the renovation or estimate the condition of the house after the events or disasters it went through.
- Dark past: House history can be related to previous crimes or unpleasant events like murder, suicide, paranormal sightings, etc. This may not have been mentioned to you by the seller; hence, you can look into it yourself.
- Scan the neighborhood: Details like house history can also provide data on the neighborhood you will be living in. I usually learn about the neighborhood to understand the community, measure the crime rate, avoid flood-prone areas, etc.
How to estimate the age of the house?
I found these helpful tips that you can use to estimate the age of a house:
- Guides of Architectural Styles and Details: These guides can tell a lot about a house from its planning and architecture. For example, if you see Gothic Revival and Italianate styles it’s from the 1800s, in 1950s properties you may come across cast iron drain lines which were a standard part of the house in those times. Furthermore, if it’s 70’s architecture, you will find a sunken lounge in the living room known as the conversational pit, etc.
- Use architectural history: Find out the complete history of the house, including when it was built, what changes took place, etc. This way, you can check the areas that have not been renovated to estimate the age of the house in parts.
- Evolution of renovations: If you look at the renovations and restorations made in the house, you will be able to tell when they were made and how soon you may have to do them again. Moreover, some renovations may not be up to today’s standards; hence, those will need more work.
- Get help from a professional: You can never be too sure of all assumptions or inspections you make unless you are an expert in this subject matter. Hence, I suggest you get a historian and an architect for more truthful answers.
Ethical and legal considerations for looking up the history of a house
Looking up a house history should be done within ethical and legal boundaries. Always ensure that your intent is right; it is okay to look up house history if you plan on purchasing it, want to learn about your heritage, or are simply curious about a certain property because of its appearance or a fascinating tale. However, if you plan on causing any harm, such as stalking and harassment, to the residents or want to vandalize the property, it will not only be ethically wrong but also punishable under the law.
One of the most important things you need to keep in mind while personally visiting a property to understand its history is permission. If you do not have a prior appointment with the homeowners, it can come under trespassing. As per the United States law, the owner doesn’t have to prove that they suffered any damages that could reduce the value of the property; even the most trivial damage can make you liable to the Trespass To Land rule.
If you are visiting the location with a real estate agent, make sure that they are reliable and have the proper license to visit the house.
Legal issues to consider before buying a house
There are many legal processes that you need to go through before buying a house; here, I have mentioned some of the most important points.
- Mortgage pre-approval, approval, and closing: The mortgage pre-approval, approval, and closing proof will make a seller more open to your deal.
- Negotiating offer and signing agreement: Your offer may be rejected by the seller or they could modify the agreement as per their convenience. If this happens, you must involve your attorney and not sign it unless both parties find a middle ground.
- Home inspection: Ask your lawyer to add a clause about house inspection so you can hire a professional home inspector to help you decide on the property.
- Title insurance: Before you finalize the property, do a thorough title search to see if there are any outstanding mortgages, unpaid liens, etc. This way, title insurance can ensure that your ownership rights are free of any old claims.
- Deeds and Filing: To close the deal, you will receive the deeds at your current residential address. To understand the deeds, involve your lawyer so they can guide you in this process as it can be confusing. Once you complete the paperwork, allow your attorney or the agent to decide how it should be filed.
Conclusion
All the methods that I have tried generated truthful results most of the time. Not every method may yield the same amount of details or accuracy, as the results will depend on the tool or site’s database. It can be slightly challenging for a few properties, however, if one method fails, there are thirteen others that you can try to look up the history of a house.
