Codes are in place to provide a standard of safety and building integrity- why would you consider purchasing a home that isn't up to code?

To deb; codes are meant to provide safety, however, these codes change over time and homes are still very livable.

Cal, we remodeled a home that was built in the 1950s we were able to increase the stair width, but not the tread depth and we brought the handrail up to current code. As previous poster stated stairs are complex and expensive we hired a custom stair company.

Would you need a permit to change the stairs (cost not an issue)?

And there's no fire stopping in the balloon framing either, but you couldn't see that. With no insulation, it makes a chimney from the first floor up in every stud bay.

It's an old house. Live with it please.