How to Find the Year a House Was Built

Finding out what year a house was built can be a challenging task. But following a few steps may make the process easier and yield a successful search.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

1. Check your state's public tax assessment records. In an online real property database, you may find ownership history, tax records and other historical information (for example, the year an improvement, such as a house, appeared on the land). For an example of one state's database, see Resources. Use keywords like "real property database" in a search engine to find your local real property database. Not every state government has placed this type of information online, though, so you may need to call or visit your state or county tax assessment office to see what records are available to the public.

2. Consult with a real estate professional if you are having difficulty finding tax records in your state. Most real estate agents can use a multiple listing service to gather tax and title information that is not readily available to the public.

3. Look at physical elements for hints about the age of your home. These may include architectural style, building materials, building framing, mechanical systems, plumbing materials and electrical wiring. Consult with a certified appraiser or a certified home inspector if you need a professional opinion on these aspects of your home.

4. Do not rely solely on a title or deed search. It can provide important clues about the age of the property, but they can be misleading because government authorities usually attach deeds to the land and not to the improvement set on it.

5. Look at the meter box. It may have information on when the company installed the meter, which will give you clues about the age of your home.

References

• InvestAPedia

Resources

• Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation