Evidence of 2nd flr floor joists seen in first flr ceiling sheetrock

[Grumpydoc]

I currently had a home inspected for purcahse.
4 Bedroom center hall Colonial.
Year built 1970. Northeastern New Jersey.
The area of concern is the family room ceiling (family room is 13'W x 21'L).
The inspector observed the following. At the separating wall (between living room and family room)21' dimension and the outside wall (opposite separating wall) 21' dimension the second floor bedroom floor joists can be observed as though they are pushing down on the sheetrock ceiling of the family room. One can observe the narrow side (2" dimension)of the joists (16" inch on center I beleive)in the sheetrock at the 90 degree intersections of the common wall and ceiling and the outside wall and ceiling the entire 21' length of the walls. There was no observation of the joist in mid span of the family room ceiling. The second floor bedroom above the family room is at a different elevation (one step up) from the rest of the rooms on the second level. There was no apparent evidence on the second floor of any major shift or settling. No visible foundation cracks. Any ideas as to why this may have happened?

 

[boo1]

Could the joist be cracked?

 

[redhead]

Take a wallboard saw and remove a piece of the ceiling. That way, you can really assess what is happening. Structural engineers do not have x-ray vision.