How to Find the Ownership of a Property
Real estate property records showing ownership are available to the public, similar to birth and marriage certificates. There are many ways to find a property's legal owner. For example, you can search for information through county databases using the location or property owner's name. Some cases are complex because many owners might share interest in a property.
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Instructions
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Determine the property's physical location, plus its legal description. A property on 12345 Apple Ave. for instance, also might be known as Legal Block 5, Lot 2345, Space 6789. This is important because street names are common among different cities.
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Conduct a search through the property tax appraisal office. Many counties maintain an online search engine with information about current and past property owners along with their tax obligations.
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Hire a private investigator or register with a national database, especially if you are missing details about the property. It is difficult to find real estate information when you have incomplete details, such as the street address without the correct city or zip code. For example, a property might be listed as 1234 Any Street, Los Angeles, California, when it should be listed as part of Long Beach, California, which is in Los Angeles County.
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Search local court records. If a property is in foreclosure proceedings, the ownership will change shortly. County tax offices can place liens and foreclose on property where taxes remain unpaid. Lending institutions, namely mortgage holders, can also foreclose or repossess property.
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Contact your state's business division, referred to as department or secretary of state, if you are interested in a commercial property. In California, for example, it's the California Secretary of State, but in Florida, you would contact the Florida Department of State. Regardless of whether a business rents or owns real estate, it must register with the state and federal government.
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Tips & Warnings
Private investigator rates vary, but expect to pay at least $150 to $200 for a basic title search.
Real estate (real) property records differ from personal property. Anyone can obtain information about intellectual property like copyrights and patents along with vehicle titles. However, records about personal items, such as artwork, jewelry, and items with intrinsic value might not be easily uncovered.
