
You can find out what year your house was built by reviewing the title search, title insurance policy, or appraisal you received at closing. You can also contact your mortgage lender, closing attorney, county clerk, local building inspector, or local library. Looking at the material and hardware used to build your house may also give you clues.
How can you find out when your house was built?
- Take a trip to your county recorder’s office. ...
- Conduct a sticker search. ...
- Head to the library. ...
- Check out your state’s historical society, museums, or history center. ...
- Call your real estate agent. ...
- Talk to your neighbors. ...
- Meet previous owners. ...
When was tallest building in the world built?
This building is situated in Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan and has 101 floors and a height of 1667 floors. It was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 2004, soon superseded by the World Trade Centre in the US.
How to find the year house was built?
Why Do I Need to Know How Old My House is?
- Method 1: Consult Your Ownership Documents. ...
- Method 2: Ask the Realtor. ...
- Method 3: Start with the Tax Records. ...
- Method 4: Check the County Clerk’s Office. ...
- Method 5: Talk to the Local Building Inspector. ...
- Method 6: Try Your Community Library. ...
- Method 7: Consider the Materials. ...
When was the first brick house ever built?
“The house is so interesting because it is a classic example of a circa 1680 solid brick house,” says Ivers. The home is believed to have been built around 1680 by Peter Tufts (yes, as in the university, which his descendant later donated the land for) and is considered by many historians to be the oldest all-brick house in the United States.

How do you date when a house was built?
How to find the history of your houseLook up summary info.Go to your county recorder's website.Look at the county parcel viewer.Access the history of a property online.Order copies of property records.Get permit records.Deeds and ownership transfers.Census and planning records.
How do I find out how old my building is UK?
An easy way to find out the age of your house is to check the HM Land Registry records. The HM Land Registry have historical ownership records called Title Registers (Deeds). You can check the age of the property by seeing when the transfer was originally made from the property developer to the first owner.
When was my house built USA?
Go to the county recorder's office or its website if you don't have your chain of title documents. The recorder's office has the deeds and records for your property on file as public record, which you can look up for free.
How do you tell how old a house is by looking at it?
Here are some ways you can do it.Identify the Visual Character of the Building. ... Try to Identify the Architectural Style of Your House. ... Examine the Physical Evidence. ... Check the Title. ... Ask Around. ... Visit the Tax Assessor. ... Visit Your County Registry of Deeds. ... Follow the Paper Trail.
How do you find out history about your house?
How to Find Out the History of Your HouseSearch the registry of deeds. ... Check the National Registry of Historic Places. ... Ask your Realtor. ... Contact previous owners. ... Look up old census records. ... Subscribe to a genealogy website. ... Visit a local library, historical society or preservation foundation. ... Head to a nearby battlefield.More items...•
How do I find out what year my house was built Qld?
You can find other information about the history of your house by checking:Brisbane City Archives: Access Council's collections of early planning and building records.State Library of Queensland - House history.Queensland Heritage Register and State Heritage places.National Library of Australia.More items...•
What would my house look like years ago?
How to Trace the History of Your House: The 7 Best SitesTrace My House.The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) This federal agency maintains all historical genealogical and land records. ... Family Search. ... Cyndi's List. ... Old House Web. ... Building History. ... The National Archives.
What was the old house built with?
solid block of graniteThe old house was built with solid block of granite. Was this answer helpful?
How do I find out when a property was built?
The easiest way to find out when a house was built is to search look at its 'title register'. These are more commonly known as the 'title deeds'. The title deeds are proof of ownership of the property, but they also tell you when the property was sold to the first owner by the property developer.
When was my house built Dublin?
The title deeds for the property may be available from your solicitor, the Registry of Deeds in the King's Inns building, Dublin 1, or possibly online from Land Registry (landregistry.ie). The deeds can offer information on when the site was originally sold or leased, previous owners and site dimensions.
How do I find out when my house was built Qld?
You can find other information about the history of your house by checking:Brisbane City Archives: Access Council's collections of early planning and building records.State Library of Queensland - House history.Queensland Heritage Register and State Heritage places.National Library of Australia.More items...•
How do I find out who owns land UK?
You may be able to find out who owned the property before the current owner from a historical title register. It can also be useful if you're trying to find out how old a property is. Ask HM Land Registry to search who owned the property for a specific date or multiple dates.
How to find out what year a house was built?
You can find out what year your house was built by reviewing the title search, title insurance policy, or appraisal you received at closing. You can also contact your mortgage lender, closing attorney, county clerk, local building inspector, or local library. Looking at the material and hardware used to build your house may also give you clues. Finally, you can search for the age of your house online.
Why is it important to know what year your house was built?
The year your home was built is important because it can help you know when to perform maintenance and more.
How to get accurate information on a property?
The best way to get accurate, detailed information is to go to the county clerk’s office and look at the property records. They should have a record of every owner since the property first existed. You should have some of these documents in your closing papers, as a title search or even appraisal will turn up the same information. You may need to call the attorney who handled the closing, or you could have the documents at home.
How to tell the age of a house?
There are certain materials that were popular at certain times and they will give you a clue as to the age of your house. This won’t help you much if the home has been completely renovated, but any original parts will give you an idea. For example, people used asphalt tile flooring between 1920 and 1960. If your bathroom has the original fixtures, you can look under the toilet tank for a manufacturing date stamp.
How to find out who lived in a house?
Many people bought a tract of land before there was a building on the property. You can find out the original land value and the change in value once your house was built. Another thing you can find is the census records, which will tell you who lived in the house in the past. You can then do a search of those people to learn more about the history of your house.
What style of house did people build in the 1850s?
The style of your home may also give you a clue. In the 1850s, people built Italianate- style homes, but in the 1890s, everyone built Colonials. In the 1900s, they changed to Craftsman-style houses. You can consult with a local architect as well, as they know how to identify the style of homes and how old they are.
Where to get closing papers?
If you used an attorney for your closing, these papers might be at the law office. And if that is the case, they should be able to give you a copy.
How to find out the history of a house?
The first step in finding a house’s history is looking up the address of the property on a real estate website. 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.
What kind of property details can I get from public records on a house’s history?
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.
What if I’m looking at an older home?
When you buy an older home, you might want to learn about the history of ownership. You’ll probably also want to know how the house was upgraded over time, if anything different was on the property beforehand, as well as if and how the land was divided.
How to find property information on a county recorder?
The quickest and most straightforward way to locate property information on a county recorder website is with the APN number. If you couldn’t find a parcel number for a property by looking on a real estate website, you can most likely use your city or county parcel search feature.
How to find owner of a parcel in a county?
Going back to the county parcel map, locate the property again on the map , and click on it . Some parcel viewers will give you the owner’s name. If not, check the property report. This often includes the most recent sales history listing the seller and buyer, as well as the change in ownership instrument, like a deed. You can often click on the recording number to see the deed . You may also be able to look at the property tax bill, which typically lists the owner’s name and address.
What to ask before closing on a house?
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? So, before you strike a deal with a home seller and begin the closing process, it’s important to learn about the property history of your soon-to-be home. Below, we outline how you can search for a house’s history so you know exactly when it was built, any major renovations that were completed, and other important details to help make homeownership that much easier and stress free.
What is the pop up box on my property?
When you click on the property, you’ll see a pop-up box. This box contains basic info about the property. From here, you can access various property records, including when the house was built, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, assessed value, and tax history.
How to find out the build date of a house?
The fastest and easiest way to find out the exact build date of your home is to reference your ownership documents. These let you see the entire deed history, from beginning until today.
Why do people want to know the building era of their home?
One is if you are selling your home. You or your realtor will likely have to answer questions about the history of the house. Your disclosures can also affect the price of your home, so it’s best practice to research.
Why are old homes dangerous?
Due to different materials and techniques, some of the electrical wiring and plumbing can create problems for owners of old homes. Both electric and plumbing are expensive issues, and they each introduce their hazards. Faulty plumbing can encourage mold growth, and old wiring can start fires.
What were some examples of Gilded Age homes?
Some well-known examples of these homes are the Darlington in New Jersey and the Rockefeller Estate.
Why are old buildings hard to catch?
Gases like carbon monoxide and radon can be present in old buildings and can be hard to catch due to the lack of color or odor. These gases can not only impair the lungs, but can slowly break down the foundation of a home.
How to find the date of manufacture of a toilet?
Original Structures – If your home has structures from the original construction, you can inspect it to see the manufacture date. Typically, companies will stamp the year of production on the lid or tank of bathroom products like toilets.
How to tell if your home is old?
Hardware and materials evolve over the years, so things like nails, outlets, and even toilets can have some tell-tale signs of the age of your home. So what should you look for?
How to find out when a house was built?
In order to determine the year a house was built, property owners can locate the deed or ownership documents that list the exact date the house was built.
What does it mean when a house has an unfinished basement?
Many homes built with unfinished basements may possess markings that indicate the year the home was built. For example, a cement wall may have a stamp of the date when the concrete was poured. In addition, evaluating and analyzing the architecture of the home's makeup may also indicate an approximate year or decade in which the home was built.
What should be on a deed when buying a house?
The property deed, tax documents or transfer-of-ownership statement that was issued when the house was bought should list the date of construction as well as a list of buyers and sellers of the home. In addition, yearly real estate tax documents available from the tax assessor's office should list the origin of the home as well as the amount of taxes paid on the home each year.
How many buildings are in the GSA database?
More than 500 buildings are managed in GSA's Historic Building Database. Use the fields below to search GSA's inventory of historic buildings. To narrow your search, first select a state from the menu to the right
What is a.gov website?
Here’s how you know. Official websites use .gov. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website.
How can I get started looking into my property?
Charlie: The more information you have to start your search, the better. Bring any documents that make reference to the property and its surrounds. Government documents often have information written on them, which means something to an archivist – they can be very insightful.
When do people tend to be interested in finding out more about their property?
Charlie: People look into their houses once they’ve bought them. The curiosity is there for owners: when was the house built? What was there before it? Often people find things in their back yard, old foundations for instance, and it sparks intrigue.
What is the public record office?
Charlie: Public Record Office Victoria holds the archives of the State Government of Victoria. To date, there are almost 100kms of records, ranging from the mid 1830s to today.
How long has Australia held public records?
Australia holds public records dating back hundreds of years and these records give an insight into the history of our homes. From the towns we live in and the suburbs around us to the properties themselves, and even what was there before the properties were built.
Does each state have its own office?
Each state has its own office and people can speak to their councils for some guidance.
How Do You Find Out the History of an Old House?
In most cases, unless you are a descendant of the original owners and have an attic full of memorabilia, finding out when your house was built, who lived within its walls, and what changes various homeowners wrought can be a challenging—but fascinating—journey. Anyone who undertakes it will need to be equal parts architectural historian, oral historian, research librarian and genealogist.
How to date a house?
Professionals can help date elements of a house by examining a cross section of a paint chip , says Brian Powell, an architectural conservator with Building Conservation Associates. If Powell finds that a room had 10 layers of paint, for example, but a door casing only had the last eight, he would then know that the casing probably appeared around the same time as the third layer of paint on the walls. Chemical qualities of that layer might link it to a period of manufacture.
What are some details that help rough date a house?
Other details that help rough-date a house include nails, paint colors, and molding and muntin profiles. Before the 20th century, all of these had styles particular to certain eras. (The manufacture of building materials became fairly standardized by the late 19th century.)
What do newspapers tell us about a house?
Newspapers also sometimes yield surprising information. "Look at indexes for the years you think your house may have been built, under headings such as 'buildings' or 'architecture,'" says D'Alonzo. "Construction of the more prominent houses in the area may have warranted articles," she says. "A lucky researcher may even find how many rooms were on the first floor, maybe even the wall paper."
What is a quirky detail of a house?
Quirky details of a house may point up an otherwise unnoticeable alteration. This vertical piece of wood was once part of a corner board that ran between the original rooflines of two sections of the house. When the roof was raised on the smaller section, only the face of the board remained. A patch to the lower end of the board reveals that something changed.
How did the 19th century carpenters learn classical architecture?
Carpenters in the 19th century learned the rules of classical architecture through builders' guides, like Asher Benjamin's 1827 handbook , The American Builder's Companion. The portico columns on this Greek Revival house seem to be poorly designed 20th-century additions because they are set in too far from the entablature above.
Where are old catalogs available?
On the other hand, if the hardware is from the days of mass production—from the Victorian era on—old catalogs, available in many university libraries or historical societies, become a great resource.
How to find history of building in New York City?
Using tools like the Building Information System (BIS) and the DOB NOW Public Portal, you can review the history of any building in New York City. You can find violations, permits and complaints that were reported. The building history also shows the current status of the information as active or resolved.
How to find address of building in BIS?
From the BIS Menu section, select Building Information Search, under Search by Property select the borough from the drop-down menu, enter the address of the building and click Go. This will bring you to the Property Profile. You can view/check:
What is a certificate of occupancy?
Certificate of Occupancy – states the legal use of a building and/or type of permitted occupancy

When Was My House built? The Quick Answer
When Was My House built? The Long Answer
- But what happens if you don’t have your owner’s documents handy? There are a few other unique ways to tell the age of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Even though there are several ways you can figure out when your home was built, the nuanced differences between every home makes pinpointing the age of some homes difficult.
So, When Was My House built?
- This is a great question to ask. Whether you are interested in your home’s history for personal or business reasons, it’s information that is useful to learn. By doing a quick online search or making a trip to your area’s public records offices to determine when your house was built, you can quickly identify some essential information for your dwelling space. With your home’s age affect…