A change in domain ownership doesn't automatically reset a domain's standing with search engines, which cuts both ways for a prospective buyer.
Prior History Can Follow the Domain to Its New Owner
Both positive signals, like genuine authority, and negative ones, like a past penalty, can persist through an ownership change.
Search Engines May Take Time to Reassess a Changed Site
A domain that shifts significantly in purpose or content under new ownership often takes some time to be fully reevaluated.
A Clean Transition Helps Establish New Legitimacy
Genuine, consistent, high-quality content under new ownership is the most reliable way to establish a fresh, positive standing over time.
Next step: Use the Wayback Expired Domains to understand what a domain's prior history looked like before you take over ownership.