If you’re interested in a property, it can be helpful to know its owner. This information can help you determine whether it’s worth investing in, or if there are existing liens on the property.
Thankfully, it’s not hard to find out who owns a property. Here are a few ways to go about it.
Firstly there is the easy option - Plotzy's AI helper does all of the below steps for you, in a few minutes. If you're intersected in seeing what an AI helper can do in the context of real estate and commercial real estate, check it out here:
If you're not in the market for a time-saving tool and are willing to do it the hard or manual way, follow the steps below!
1. Check the County Tax Assessor Website
Many people in the real estate and commercial real estate spaces have a lot of interest in finding out who owns a property, whether it’s a building or a plot of land. For some people, this is simply a matter of curiosity, while others need the information in order to do their jobs (either as property managers, real estate agents or attorneys).
Fortunately, there are a variety of resources available that can help you find the owner of a property, and some are very easy to use. For instance, a simple online search of the county tax assessor website is often the first step. This will typically provide you with a list of owners, including their mailing addresses. You’ll also be able to learn how much they paid for the property, any existing liens and when they bought or sold it.
You can also find out who owns a property by visiting the website of your local county clerk or recorder. This will give you a list of property owners and their contact information, as well as the official description of each parcel. Some sites will even offer a mapping feature that allows you to see the location of each property in the area.
In some cases, you may need to visit the office in person in order to get access to these records. However, there are usually ways to navigate these websites from home, especially if you have an internet connection that is fast enough. Alternatively, you can visit the local library and ask one of their librarians to help you find this type of information.
Finally, you can try asking the actual property owner if they’re willing to share this information with you. However, this is often only effective if you have a personal or professional relationship with them and can be considered intrusive. If you have exhausted all of these methods and still want to know who owns a property, hiring a private investigator is an option. These professionals are often expensive and charge by the hour, but they can help you uncover a wealth of details that might not be available through other resources.
2. Scour the Web
Real estate professionals, developers, landlords, and investors are all interested in a property’s ownership information. Whether it’s a beautiful lake cabin that isn’t listed on an MLS or a plot of land that’s perfect for a new home, finding out the owner can make all the difference in a deal. Thankfully, there are several ways to get this information that are free or offer an affordable fee.
Depending on what you’re looking for, online property searches can provide valuable insight into who owns a piece of real estate. Typically, these websites aggregate data from public records and other legal documents to display ownership information. Although comprehensive access may require a subscription or payment, most basic search results are available for free.
Another option to consider is contacting the property’s neighbors. Having lived in their neighborhood for years, or decades in some cases, neighbors often have a good sense of who owns property and how to reach them. They can also share important contextual information that might not be as readily available from a public record search, such as ongoing issues or disputes related to the property.
A final option to explore is hiring a real estate attorney. Though this is more expensive than doing your own public records search, a lawyer can help you get to the bottom of an ownership dispute or find out why a property isn’t on the market.
There are many reasons why someone would want to know the owner of a specific piece of property, but finding out can seem like an impossible task. Luckily, there are a few different methods to do so that are inexpensive and relatively easy. Using these methods, prospective buyers can be confident they’re working with a legitimate owner and not a shady one. Those who aren’t able to find out the owner through these resources should proceed cautiously and use these methods as a last resort. They should always be prepared for a potential dispute with the property’s actual owners. For instance, homeowners may be resistant to a sale if they feel that their privacy has been violated.
3. Check the Secretary of State Website
People in the real estate and commercial real estate spaces often need to know who owns a property for a variety of reasons. Real estate agents and investors may be interested in purchasing properties that aren’t currently listed on the market, or they might have an eye for a piece of land that could be used for development.
For homeowners, property ownership information can be helpful for settling boundary disputes or in case a legal issue arises over a property. Genealogists and historians also research property ownership records as part of their work to trace family histories or heritage. And residents of a neighborhood often want to know who owns a nearby property for community relations or safety concerns.
Thankfully, finding who owns a property isn’t as difficult as it might seem. In many cases, you can conduct a basic online search that will uncover public property records. In other cases, you’ll need to turn to subscription databases with a strong interest in maintaining accurate records. ProspectNow, for example, offers a searchable database of commercial and residential properties with current owner contact information.
In the case of a home, you can also try to find out who owns a property by visiting a local government agency or title company. These resources will usually have the latest property tax records and a record of the most recent deeds filed for the address in question. You might even be able to find out who owns a property without paying anything at all by simply walking up to the property and asking to see if it is vacant.
If you don’t have much luck with these methods, you can always seek out the help of a private investigator — but this is typically an expensive option and only worthwhile for extremely urgent needs. It’s important to remember that property ownership information is private, personal data, and that seeking this information must be done in accordance with strict privacy laws. As you go through these steps, be sure to think about why you want to know who owns a property and how you’ll use the information you gather.
4. Check the County Clerk’s Office
Many people in the residential and commercial real estate spaces often want to know who owns a property. This information is useful for a variety of reasons, including making sure the property is officially owned by that individual or company and whether there are any legal disputes with the previous owner or current homeowner. It can also be helpful for developers who are interested in a specific plot of land for potential development.
Luckily, finding out who owns a property is not as difficult as one may think. Most of the information on property ownership is public record, and much of it is available online or at a county or municipal office. These offices are usually called the tax assessor’s office, city hall or the county clerk’s office. Some have their own websites where you can search for records by address, parcel number or name.
A majority of private property owners pay property taxes on their homes and land, and the county tax assessor’s office keeps a record of all these payments. A quick Google search with the county name plus “tax assessor” can be an effective way to find the official owner of a property.
Each state or municipality maintains a database of property deeds, which are the legal documents that record the transfer of a property from one owner to another. These deeds can be accessed online at the local or state government website and may list the current owner of a property along with some of its historical details.
Aside from these methods, a simple call to the property’s phone number or knocking on the door of the home or business can also be helpful in discovering who owns a property. Though this can be an uncomfortable way to approach someone, it may also be the best way to get a direct answer. Moreover, it can be a great way to see if the property is for sale or if the owner would be willing to do an off market sale. If all else fails, a real estate attorney or title company can also help.
