Guide to Conducting a Free Online Property Records Search

Public property records are useful for home buyers, realtors performing title searches for a prospective home buyers or small business owners considering purchasing a property to use as office space.

While it's not possible to find very detailed information about every single property, the public property records information you do find is helpful for several reasons:

1. You'll save time. Any preliminary information you can gather from a free property records search before going to a courthouse will streamline your search process once you get there.
2. You'll save money. You can hire a court researcher at $30 or more per hour to conduct a property history search, or you can find the same information within 30 minutes online.
3. You'll get basic information about the property.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get detailed property record information online

You are entitled to property record information. Many people don't realize that real estate transactions are part of the public domain, and that's why public property records are so accessible.

I recommend: Go to Zillow.com to find detailed property information including the tax assessor's value, an estimate of the property's worth, and an aerial image. Access public records information by state and county through NETROnline.

Conduct a property history search without going to the courthouse

In some cases, it's possible to determine previous property owners by conducting a free property records search online. Some county websites maintain very detailed information online which will allow you to find a property ownership listing or other home property information. Verify property owner by visiting the relevant county's website.

I recommend: Visit State and Local Government on the Net to find links to county websites. Simply click on the appropriate state link to search for the county you need. For some counties, you can find detailed information online including a property's assessed value, property tax information and previous owners.

Find property photos online

While it might get tedious to perform a free property record search or mortgage records search, visual records can help break up the monotony.

I recommend: Go to Google Earth to download their program. You'll have access to satellite images and a bird's eye view when you enter an address. Google Street View offers street level photographs of select cities, which can be helpful if you're interested in an overall view of a specific neighborhood.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• In some cases, a trip to the courthouse might still be necessary. It's possible to find a lot of information online, but you won't always find everything you need.
• Some states and localities offer an abundance of property information online, while other states don't offer any information online due to privacy concerns.

The official source of Conducting a Free Online Property Records Search is
the Property Records Search page at Business.com