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Consulting the architect of your house is not the best way to determine when it was built. Many homes are built by developers or builders, so there may not be a specific architect to track down—especially if you have a very old house. Instead, it’s best to rely on local government records.

If a home's appraised value comes in lower than the offer price, it can create complications with financing. Lenders typically won't issue a loan for more than the property's market value, as this can push the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio too high and may prevent the loan from being approved. Your options depend on whether your purchase agreement includes an appraisal contingency. If there is no contingency, both parties may be locked into the deal, meaning the buyer pays more than the appraised value. If a contingency exists, the buyer can usually renegotiate the price or withdraw from the deal. If a buyer still wishes to proceed, they can try to negotiate a lower price, increase their down payment to cover the difference, or get a second appraisal.

Termite damage isn’t always a deal breaker when buying a house, but don’t dismiss it. If that’s the case, you should hire a professional termite inspection to understand the extent of the damage, type of termite, state of repairs, and whether the infestation is gone.

If the termites are gone and the current owners repaired the damage, you might want to proceed. You may even be able to use the damage as a bargaining point. However, don’t forget that home insurance policies often don’t cover termite treatment or repairs and active infestations are tricky to shift.

Yes, a seller is legally required to disclose any known fire damage when selling a house, including damages that were repaired. That includes damages to structural components and all major systems, as well as water damage, chemical damage, and smoke damage related to the fire. Sellers use a property disclosure statement, which is regulated by each state individually, to disclose fire damage.