How can I find out the history of my house?

Answer by  Latin4 (11170)

Check with your local City Hall Housing Department, they might have permits for work done on the house and pictures on what the house looked like when it was built. Also the Historical Society in your town, County Archives or the State University Library. Some of these might give you the names of the previous owners.

Answer by  NutBucket (140)

If your house is more than a few decades old, try contacting your local historical society to see if your house is listed as a historical home. Visit the largest library branch in your area and ask a reference librarian. The city planning office will also have information about your house such as inspections, property boundaries and past owners.

Answer by  Kris (797)

See if you can obtain an abstract of title from the title office that handled your real estate closing. This document covers any known changes of ownership and can be quite long. Older people in your neighborhood are an invaluable source of information about your house as well. They may know what the house was like before renovations, etc.

Answer by  Roland27 (16334)

You can find out the history in several ways. First you can go to your local library and page through old magazine articles. This is especially helpful if you know who lived in the house or the year it was built. Or ask the people you bought it from, maybe they could refer you to the owners before them.

Answer by  jill (62)

Try starting at the county clerk's office. They will be able to tell you the names of all the previous owners, who built the home, and when it was built. This information should be on previous tax records. Then take that info to the local library and ask the librarian to help you look through town record etc...

Answer by  pradhaprajgmailcom (1518)

If it is your own house,inherited,get first hand information from your neatest relatives lived in that house.Then trace the family members who had or has some knowledge about it.Get details about the year in which it was constructed;how long did they take to finish it;Who actually started the project and success and failures met.