NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require the member's nar.realtor login.
Useful Documents for Researching a Home's History
- Tax records
- Building permits
- Fire insurance maps
- Local newspapers
- Genealogy records
12 Ways to Trace a Home’s History (Bob Vila, Oct. 29, 2023)
How to Research Your Home
How to Investigate Your House’s History (The Washington Post, Sep. 27, 2023)
A courthouse’s archive of deeds will show who owned a property and when. Depending on the age of the house, this information might be on a computer, paper or microfilm. Certain houses have collections of documents called abstracts that “go all the way back to that land patent when it was purchased from the federal government,” Elder says.
Unsolved Mysteries: 9 Ways to Find the History of a Property Online (HomeLight, Sep. 25, 2023)
“If the property you’re interested in is a historic home, then you should be able to locate it through the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is a program of the National Park Service, where properties that are historically significant are recorded.”
The Pros and Cons to Renovating an Old House (Family Handyman, Jun. 23, 2023)
“Renovations could take more time. Since old homes aren’t generally cookie-cutter, unexpected surprises are often found during renovations. Your plans, price and timeline will likely change, and most of the time it’s not for the better.”
Owning a Historic Home: A Guide with Pros and Cons (Quicken Loans, Apr. 24, 2023)
“Well-preserved historic homes in a designated historic district can outpace existing home values, generally speaking. While official figures aren’t kept regarding the increase in value of historic homes, a study from New York City indicates that historic designation does raise home values faster, while a study from Washington, D.C. offered mixed results in that residential home values rose while condominium prices fell.”
How Do I Research the History of My House? (Library of Congress, Nov. 2, 2022)
“City and telephone directories allow you to look for individuals, families, or businesses to view such details as: addresses, occupations, and household residents. Observed broadly, they will also provide a community perspective.”
Land Records (
National Archives)
Records held by the National Archives that can be of great use to researchers include, but are not limited to Land Entry Case Files, Right of Ways, Mineral Surveys, township surveys, and water rights.
General Information about Historic Property
6 Modern Strategies for Prolonging the Life of a Historic Residential Property (Restoration & Remediation, May 14, 2024)
Fire is the most dangerous threat to buildings. Putting a premium on fire protection is the best way to prevent a famed property and its treasures from being engulfed by flames. Inhabited historic homes and those located in areas prone to wildfires are at higher risk of being reduced to charcoal by accident or circumstance.
The Pleasures and Perils of Renovating a Historic Home—Asbestos, ‘Historically Accurate Nails,’ and All (realtor.com®, Apr. 24, 2024)
“With historic homes comes historic building material,” explains Drew. “That usually means the house is full of lead paint and asbestos. All of these things must be torn out, remediated, or contained. Original iron piping also needs to be removed because it usually contains lead-soldered connections.”
What It’s Like To Live in a Historical Home (Rocket Homes, Mar. 22, 2023)
“As a more recent owner, Don Allison has been working to breathe new life into his home for 14 years. Having done a large portion of the restoration themselves, he and his wife have still put in around $50,000. Though there’s more to be done, Allison believes that the end is finally near.”
Historic Home Renovations Guide: Everything You Need to Know (Angi, Apr. 15, 2024)
Historical committees can help you determine if street-facing alterations will threaten the validity of its original features. They can also determine if structure repairs, such as adding drywall, will shorten the home's lifespan. In other words, it's helpful to have these experts on your side during the process.
Four Approaches to the Treatment of Historic Properties (Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service)
“The choice of treatment depends on a variety of factors, including the property's historical significance, physical condition, proposed use, and intended interpretation.”
Tax Incentives for Preserving Historic Properties (Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service)
“A 20% income tax credit is available for the rehabilitation of historic, income-producing buildings that are determined by the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service, to be “certified historic structures.” “
National Register of Historic Places (National Park Service)
“The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation.”
Architectural Styles
Types Of Houses: Popular And Common Styles In Real Estate (Quicken Loans, Jan. 25, 2024)
The Mediterranean style draws from countries like Greece, Spain and Italy. These homes are typically built with a stucco exterior with large arched windows and red clay roof tiles. Spanish settlers in the Southwest during the 16th century took advantage of the thick clay walls to maintain cooler temperatures in the desert heat. In the 1920s, Americans became fascinated with this distinctive style, and it soon took off in popularity.
30 Architectural House Styles and Their Defining Characteristics (Better Homes & Gardens, Dec. 18, 2023)
The Craftsman bungalow (also known as the Arts and Crafts style) was popular between 1900 and 1930, and it’s making a comeback today. If you’re wondering what a Craftsman-style house interior looks like, pay attention to the woodwork. One distinguishing feature of the style is the large amount of interior woodwork, such as built-in shelving and seating.
Architectural Styles: Residential (REALTOR® Magazine)
“This architectural styles guide will teach you about the structural elements that give a home character, history, and romance.”
Explore by Architectural Style (U.S. General Services Administration)
“GSA's buildings reflect 200 years of architectural design. Click on a building in the image below to start your exploration of architectural styles.”
Buying & Selling Older Homes
The Charms and Headaches of Buying a Historic Home (Rocket Mortgage, Mar. 18, 2024)
“There are many benefits and drawbacks involved with the purchase of a historic home. For example, you can save money in the form of tax breaks, but older homes can often surprise you with emergency repairs. You will need to determine what owning a piece of history is worth to you.”
10 Tips for Selling Your Historical Home to the Right Buyer (HomeLight, Mar. 4, 2024)
When sharing your home’s history, always ensure the information is as fact-based and accurate as possible. Telling a false fable is one easy way to turn off potential buyers.
“Any history presented should be based on research, not opinions and guesses,” says Hanson. “If information is based on oral history, that should be stated in the document. Old house people will not be happy to discover later that information they were given was inaccurate.”
Helpful Tips for Working with Historic Properties (REALTOR® Magazine, Mar. 7, 2022)
“Given the age of a historic home and the care involved in maintaining one over time, sellers are looking for that one person who is going to fall in love with the history of a home. This is why it may also make sense to market the home in a few nontraditional places, such as a local historical society or websites that cater specifically to older homes. Telling the home’s story on social media can also go a long way to catching a buyer’s eye.”
Useful Websites
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is leading the movement to save places where our history happened.
Preservation.com Directory
The online resource for historic preservation, building restoration and cultural resource management in the United States & Canada.
Historic Homes Magazine
“We capture homes in the moment, every moment. As storytellers, we let the lens speak for these beautiful historic homes.”
This Old House
When This Old House premiered in 1979, the show launched a new television genre, empowering legions of home remodelers. More than four decades later, the company boasts two of the three highest-rated home improvement shows on television in This Old House and Ask This Old House and the highly regarded This Old House Magazine.
Books, eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
American Architectural History: A Contemporary Reader (eBook)
Building Codes for Existing and Historic Buildings (eBook)
Buying an Old House (eBook)
Cheap Old Houses (eBook)
Early American Country Homes (eBook)
A Field Guide to American Houses (eBook)
Green Restorations (eBook)
Better Than New (eBook)
Tracing the History of Houses (eBook)
Victorian Cottage Architecture (eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
As a REALTOR® member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.
Appraising Conservation and Historic Preservation Easements (Chicago, IL: Appraisal Institute, 2011) HD1387 R587
Beyond Takings and Givings: Saving Natural Areas, Farmland, and Historic Landmarks with Transfer of Development Rights and Density Charges (Marina Del Rey, CA: Arje Press, 2003) NAC 1565 P95b
Caring for Your Old House: a Guide for Owners and Residents (Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, 1991) TH 4817 N21
The Restoration Economy: the Greatest New Growth Frontier—Immediate & Emerging Opportunities for Businesses, Communities & Investors (San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2002) HD 9715 C86
If This House Could Talk: Historic Homes, Extraordinary Americans (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1999) E 1569 B82
Dictionary of Building Preservation (New York, NY: John Wiley-DM, 1996) NA 31 D55
Historic Properties: Preservation and the Valuation Process (Chicago, IL: Appraisal Institute, 1996) HD 1387 Am3hi
Historic Preservation in American Communities (Washington, D.C.: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1987) NAC 1276 N21h
New Life for Old Houses (Chicago, IL: Preservation Press, 1989) TH 3411 N21
Easements and Other Legal Techniques to Protect Historic Houses in Private Ownership (Washington, D.C.: Historic House Association of America, 1981) K 762 H62
The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Interior. Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, 1980) NAC 250 Un3si
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The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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