Depends how thick the wood is. Maybe they can be completely refinished and maybe they cannot. Impossible to tell from just the pics.

Might be possible but not cheap nor easy.

from the pic they look nice. and recently done.

But they also look like red oak. lightening up red oak usually means dealing w/slightly pink tones. it's just how the wood is if left in it's neutral shade.

If they are solid boards, and still have 'wear' on them. they can be sanded down to raw wood and refinished. Expect to pay many, many thousands, depending on your sq footage. Call in wood flooring specialist.

did you ask the sellers if they've had them refinished recently?

You can totally sand and refinish the floors and leave them natural with just a poly over them. However, I think they're gorgeous.

Yes, you can refinish these floors and make it lighter. This sanding job is bad and needs to done properly. The floors are wavy and have a lot of dish out. Which will cause premature wear along ridges and high spots.

Thanks everyone, very helpful! While I have your attention, I was hoping you could comment on these floors in another house we are considering. They are engineered wood. Do you think these could be made lighter?

Engineered wood can be refinished, but only once or twice depending on thickness. How many times have they been done before, and how light do you want the floors? This latest home looks like someone just redid it or is flipping it. The width of the planks is more current. I wonder if you could find out what floors they used. That would tell you the thinkness. Also, I see there is a Bertazonni range. Make sure there is service in you area for that.

those have a special factory finish on them. if you refinish them to get the lighter, you'll prob void that warranty.

I wouldn't do it. they look fine as is.

I would not touch those second floors! They're beautiful.

The last two picks show wide plank floors that are PROBABLY (not 100% sure) oil finished. Those are a different breed of floors. If they are oiled floors the GOOD news is you simply wear off the colour. Once you have worn the colour down to just about nothing (should take 2 years) then you simply seal it back up with colourless Master oil. An oiled floor will always have a tinge of yellow to it.

The last floor is almost as light as you can go with an oiled floor.

What COLOUR of floor are you LOOKING for???

@SJ McCarthyMy wife wants them lighter. Closer to blonde. I think they're fine, but she rules :-)