Guide to Property Assessors Offices - Ohio

Property assessors in Ohio have important tax and real estate records
By Maria St. Louis-Sanchez

Each Ohio county has a branch of its auditor's office that conducts Ohio property assessments. Property assessors offices—Ohio, like most states, uses this name for the branch—determine property values for the purposes of taxation. Beyond taxing purposes, however, the information Ohio property assessors collect can be invaluable for property owners and potential investors.

Familiarize yourself with your local Ohio property assessors. These offices have accessible records which can help to:

1. Research potential properties through real estate records; past-sale records of a property can help an investor know its true worth.

2. Follow Ohio land value trends by comparing and contrasting similar properties.

3. Determine taxes or potential taxes on properties. By tracking these taxes, property owners will know if they are paying a fair rate compared to similar properties.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research online records though property assessors offices in Ohio These days there are several options to find online records for property assessors offices, and Ohio is no exception. Since property records are public information, many Ohio counties offer free records searches online.

I recommend: Among the Ohio counties that offer free online searchable databases of property assessors records are Ashtabula County, Cuyahoga County and Franklin County. For a complete list of Ohio online property assessor links, see Assessor Links USA.

Know the laws for Ohio property assessment By knowing the laws for Ohio property tax, property owners will be better able to understand their tax bill and, possibly, work to lower it. For example, there are several property tax exemptions available in Ohio, including those for seniors and disabled veterans.

I recommend: The County Auditors' Association of Ohio has a guide for taxpayers about the ins and outs of property assessment in Ohio. The association also outlines what kind of tax exemptions are available and how to apply for them.

Find Ohio property values through independent websites Assessors offices in Ohio aren't the only place to find property tax records. The records from individual assessors' sites only have records for those specific counties; other websites may be very useful if you are searching for properties in several Ohio counties.

I recommend: SearchSystems.net has a direct pass program that lets users search thousands of property records and other public records from around the U.S. LoopNet is a great source if you want to search commercial property records, and detailed property records can also be purchased at Intelius Property Check.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Don't depend solely on Ohio property assessors' records for a property's true worth. In general, assessor home values tend to be lower than those of an appraiser.
Use assessor records to compare your taxes to those of similar properties. You may find discrepancies and if you do, don't be afraid to call and ask questions.