How to Find Real Estate Public Records
When real estate, such as a house, is bought or sold, it is considered a matter of public record. Unless it is owned by a trust, where members are unnamed to the general public, it is recorded in various county offices and usually reported in the local print media.
It is easier than ever to locate real estate records, as long as you have internet access or a telephone.
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Instructions
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Make sure you have the correct address of the property that you are searching. If it is a vacant lot, you will still need to know the lot number (if it is or was owned by a builder) or address it would be given if it had a mailbox. This can be determined by examining the addresses around it to determine how the houses are numbered.
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Call or visit the local county auditor or tax assessor's office, or research their Internet site for records on the address in question. Many auditor's websites even carry a picture of the property. Because real estate taxes are closely monitored, this is usually the easiest way to find information on former and current owners, the amount of the sale, and the current assessed value of the property.
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Research the local newspaper's archives for information and articles on the piece of property in question. As a matter of public record, newspapers routinely record and report all real estate transactions in their readership's area.
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Use an online company or search engine to find public records. It is important to note that many companies charge a fee for this service, although the record can usually be found for free using other avenues.
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Search through land records at your local library. Request assistance from a librarian, as the records may be in a bound archive, found online or recorded on microfiche in a smaller library system.
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