Actual age
The real age of the home based on when it was built. Different from effective age, which factors in condition.
Get the steps of a home sale by email, in order, one short email at a time.
Eight short emails, free. Unsubscribe any time. What's in them
Where this comes up: getting ready
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Actual age is the year built, and it drives things beyond the appraisal: the lead-paint rule at 1978, insurers' questions about wiring and plumbing, and the comps an appraiser picks.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
A home built in 1962. Its actual age is 64 years, its effective age after a full renovation might be 15, and the lead disclosure still applies.
| What the year built decides | For a 1962 home |
|---|---|
| The lead-paint disclosure | Applies; before 1978 |
| The comps | Homes of a similar era, adjusted for updates |
| Insurers' questions | Wiring, plumbing and roof age, asked because of the year |
The year built is a fact with rules attached. Updates change the effective age, not the actual one.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That a renovation resets the age. It changes how the home functions and appraises, and nothing about the year on the record.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines actual age in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.