Load bearing walls transfer weight through the floor to another load bearing structure under the floor. As a general rule, walls parallel to floor/ceiling joists are not load bearing. If a joist is directly above a wall, the wall could be carrying a load through the floor to structure below. Architect/engineer needs to determine the situation.

it will cost less to use a dropped header.... Everyone has their opinions. THose that didn't do it, think it looks fine and isn't worth the money to flush it up. those of us who flushed it up think its worth it. I don't know exactly, how much mine cost, we are doing a whole house remodel. I had a cape style house and I flushed up/removed the entire load bearing interior wall that ran down teh middle of the house, it broke up what is now my kitchen into the dining room, and divided my living room in 2. I do know it took 4 pieces of steel and 6 microlams (2 peices of steel per side of the stairs, and 3 microlams per side) the steel total was $2500. I also had to add a steel support column in my basement on a footing. in my situation, I was removing bedrooms to open up the kitchen, and living room it was definately worth it. It made the renovation completely integrated and looks like a colonial not a renovated cape. you have to decide whether it looks natural where you have it, or unsightly.

The property is 3 years old......so the house has been built. The open to sky photos are from 2015 during original construction. My opinion is yes, as far as I can tell from your photos, you're considering removing a wall that has a laminated header ("Smart Joist") sitting on top of it, so it is load-bearing.

Your picture seems to show 2x4s, a doubled sill plate, a gap, then a header. If that header spans from an exterior wall to an exterior wall, the 2x4s and doubled sill plate aren't doing any work other than holding up drywall.