How to find the history of a home you're looking to buy

If you're interested in purchasing a home, it's essential to research the property's history. You never know if the homeowner is hiding something or if there are any skeletons in the closet that you're unaware of. The last thing you want is to be caught off-guard after closing on a home, only to discover significant issues that need to be addressed.

That's why it's critical to do your due diligence and investigate the history of any home you're considering purchasing. 

Request a copy of the property's title report

This document will list all previous owners of the home, as well as any liens or judgments against the property. This valuable information can help you understand what you're getting yourself into.

This is probably the quickest and easiest way to get a good overview of the property's history. However, it does not provide detailed information about previous owners or any issues the property may have had. You'll need to do some additional digging if you want more information.

Pull up the property's public records.

Public records are a great way to get detailed information about a property, including its history. You can find out everything from who the previous owners were, to what type of work has been done on the property, to whether or not there have been any complaints or violations filed against it.

The best place to start is your county's public records website. You can search for the property by address or owner's name. Once you find the listing, you should be able to view all of the available public records.

Do a reverse address lookup.

If you're having trouble finding the public records for a particular property, you can try doing a reverse address lookup site. This will provide you with the name and contact information of the current homeowner and any previous owners.

Services like Unmask and Intelius offer reverse address lookups for a small fee. Once you have the contact information for the previous owner, you can reach out and ask them about the property's history. Some sites will have even more information, such as any criminal records associated with the address.

Talk to the neighbors.

If you're serious about purchasing a particular home, it's always a good idea to talk to the neighbors. They'll be able to tell you everything you need to know about the property and the surrounding area.

They may even have some stories about the previous owners that you won't find anywhere else. Either way, getting a local's perspective on things is always helpful.

Do a Google search

Sometimes, the quickest way to find out information about a property is to do a Google search. You never know what you'll come up with. Try searching for the property address and the names of any previous owners.

You might be surprised at what you find.

Check out the property's listing on Zillow, Realtor, or Trulia

When you're looking at homes online, be sure to check out the property's listing on Zillow, Realtor, or Trulia. These sites often have information about the property you won't find anywhere else.

For example, Zillow has a "Zestimate" feature that estimates the property's value. It also has a "House Details" section that includes information about the property's square footage, lot size, year built, and more.

Trulia has a similar feature called "Trulia Estimates." It also has a section called "Property History" that includes information about previous sales and any significant changes to the property.

Reach out to a real estate agent

If you find a real estate agent, they should be able to help you get the information you need. They may even have access to records that you wouldn't be able to find on your own.

At the very least, they should be able to tell you who the previous owners were and whether or not there have been any major issues with the property.

Research the property tax records

This is another good way to find out who has owned the property in the past and how much they paid for it. This information can also help determine the value of the home.

You'll need to contact your county's tax assessor's office to find the property tax records. They should be able to provide you with a history of the property taxes paid on the home.

Conclusion

There are several ways to discover the history of a home you're looking to buy. Thankfully, many methods are quick and easy to use.

Be diligent when researching the property, and you'll be able to make an informed decision about whether or not it's the right home for you.