[mrhanlon]

We are considering making an offer on a foreclosure property, but the state of the HVAC system concerns us. Obviously an inspection will be revealing, but we're trying to find out as much as we can before making an offer.
The home was built in 1983 and has baseboard registers. They certainly look original--painted over many times with some rust spots. It also has lots of wall registers (near the ceiling), many in unappealing locations (e.g. ugly long soffit with vents running down the side of the living room). The home has 2 floors, and all of the 2nd-story closets have visible flexible ductwork running through the top. Each duct enters through one wall and exits through the opposite wall, with holes cut carefully in the drywall. The ducts are clean and shiny, so suspect they're pretty new (or someone has cleaned them carefully? ).
Any guesses on why the home would have both baseboard and wall registers? Would you suspect that the ducts in the closets indicate that these were added later, perhaps because the system just was not functioning well enough?
FYI, the unit outside looks original and quite small. Other portions of the system (assumed to be in the attic) have not been viewed.
Many thanks for your input!

[joypulv]

First guess is that the AC was added later, hence the ducts, and the high vents (cold air sinks).
I would go to the town offices and look up the permit history. Some towns have this online, on the 'card,' an all inclusive history of the property. Others have it in books on the counter. Others you have to ask.
It's good to be armed with as much info as possible as you follow the inspector around.