Need to know how to find out who owns a property for free?
Whether it’s because someone wants to purchase their dream home, make a potential investment, or concerned citizens want to know who’s responsible for the criminal elements coming into a neighborhood, knowing how to find out who owns a property for free can come in handy.
And thanks to public records, the method works in any state.
In fact, there are a number of resources that can be used to identify a property owner.
Keep reading to learn how…
How Do I Find Out Who Owns a Property?
When a person is interested in learning how to find out who owns a property, legally, the reasoning depends. Sometimes it is a specific property of interest, and other times a person may be looking into property investment for personal or professional reasons. Perhaps mere curiosity has the person asking who’s residing in a property.
Whatever the reason, knowing how to navigate property searches is an extremely useful skill.
How To Find Out Who Owns a Property for Free
Many individuals have conducted internet searches on a person’s name to find a corresponding address. After learning how to find out where someone lives, the reverse side of the coin is finding out who lives in a specific place. For anyone wondering how to find out who owns a property for free, there are a few options.3
1. Do a Property Search Online
Online research is usually the quickest and easiest route for finding information. Find a property owner by typing in “Who lives at [address]?” or “Owner of [address].” These types of searches often pull up real estate sites and listings for the specified location and surrounding areas. While this method is undoubtedly the easiest route, it is not necessarily the best option. Many times, ownership information listed online may be outdated and incomplete. So while a quick internet search is likely to generate some information, it won’t always be the precise information desired.
2. Visit the Local Library
Libraries are excellent repositories of all types of information. The great thing about libraries is that they are accessible to everyone, and much information can be gathered at no cost. For individuals without regular access to the internet, most libraries provide public access to computers and internet service. Many libraries may have property search databases, and physical copies of public records may be available upon request. While most library services are free of cost, libraries sometimes charge for pages printed and copied.7
3. Search Public Records (County Clerk’s Office)
The library is not the only place to search public records. There are several places to access public records, including the county tax assessor’s office and the county recorder’s office. The cost of these services may be free in many cases, but some government offices do charge for physical copies of documents.7
This is one reason why accessing public records online is a great idea. Many local and state government sites provide portals to conduct property searches for free. This service is not available in all locales, but it is extremely useful when it is.
4. Talk to the Owner or Neighbors
It may seem too simple to work, but truly, knocking on the door to the property of interest is the most direct route to learning about the home and its owner. This is a common step in the homebuying process for a reason: it can reveal a large amount of information quickly and painlessly.
Politely express admiration for and interest in the home and exchange contact information if both parties are comfortable with that. It may also be possible to ask around the neighborhood for information concerning the home in question. This method of obtaining information is certainly not for every person or every situation and has the potential to lead to uncomfortable or even negative encounters.
5. Speak With a Real Estate Agent
For individuals who have a standing relationship with a real estate agent, it may be their good fortune to bypass the previous property search methods and inquire about their real estate agent, instead. Real estate agents are able to access any public records that an individual can, and they often have some access to databases or mailing lists that the general population is not privy to.
How To Find Owner of Property by Address for Free
Most online property searches will require an individual to input the property address to get specific information. In-person searches are also easier with the address on hand. Thus, having the property address makes an ownership search much simpler.
In most cases, this is not an issue, as modern technology allows a person to search for and zero in on nearly any location through map applications, generating the corresponding address. For local properties, acquiring the address can be as easy as a quick drive-by, noting the street names and house numbers.
With the address in hand, finding the owner of a property can be as easy as a quick internet search, a government database search, or a visit to a local library, county recorder, or county assessor. These services are free in many locations, but physical copies of documents often require purchase.7 There is also the option of asking a real estate agent to find the desired information.14
How To Find Out Who Owns a Property Without an Address
There are some situations where a property address is not easily attainable such as when the house number is not listed outside the home, when the owner uses a P.O. box to receive mail, or when the property is not yet developed.
If the house number is not easily viewable from the street and cannot be discerned by examining surrounding house numbers, search Google Maps or a similar map application.3 Map applications allow a user to explore general areas and zoom in on specific neighborhoods to read street names and view houses at the street level.4 In most cases, a house number can be determined from this type of search. If it can’t, many online databases can find ownership information based on a partial address, such as a zip code and street name.4
When an address is not attainable, a parcel number will suffice. Parcel numbers are assigned to every property lot, and the information is stored at the county assessor’s office and is sometimes accessible online. Parcel maps also include relevant property information such as boundaries, deeds, and taxes.8
Continue reading to further explore how to find out who owns a property using public records.
How To Find The Owner of a Property Public Records
Public records are tremendously helpful across many domains, and luckily, property records are public and may include:
- Property tax records
- Lien records
- Property deeds
- Current and previous owner records
- Building permits associated with the property
- Foreclosure records
With all of these public records available, determining where to begin a property ownership search can be a bit tricky. Follow this step-by-step process to find a property owner using public records.
Step 1: Check To See If the County in Question Has an Online Property Search Database
For example, in the state of Georgia, every county has its own Board of Tax Assessors (qpublic) website with an easy public records search. To find records from Bartow County, Georgia, input “Bartow County GA property search” into a web browser. The first couple of search results to pop up are Bartow County’s Tax Assessor government site and a qpublic site which the government site reroutes to for property searches.2
- Select the qpublic site.
- From the top menu, select “Search Records.”
- Accept the “Terms and Conditions.”
- Input the address or parcel number.
- Click “Search” and wait for results to generate.
Every county in Georgia has this quick, free, and easy public resource. Many other states also have similar systems set up at the state or county level, and a quick internet search can direct an individual to government databases.
Step 2: If There Is No Online Database for the Locality of Interest, Look Up the Contact Information for the County Tax Assessor
As a reference, perhaps one of Texas’ 254 counties does not have an online database, and contacting the local tax assessor is necessary. There are a couple of ways to go about this:
- Access the Texas Comptroller19 government page for links to each county’s respective offices.
- Type in “Texas Comptroller” or “Texas property records search” to pull up the government comptroller website link to a local property appraisal.
- At the bottom of the webpage, select the county of interest to pull up relevant contact information.
- Alternatively, type in the name of the county in the search browser. (e.g. “Sutton County TX property search”)
- Click on the official Tax Assessor Collector website and obtain the contact information from there.17
OR
Step 2: Look Up the Contact Information for the County Clerk or Recorder
- Input the county name into the search browser – e.g. “County recorder Sutton TX.” The first search result is the official County Clerk page with all contact information.18
Step 3: Call the Assessor or Recorder’s Office To Schedule an Appointment or Drop In To Request File Access
Note that government offices often charge for physical copies of documents.
How To Find Out Who Owns a Property by Map
As mentioned earlier, Google Maps and other map applications are excellent resources for finding property addresses. The app allows a person to view homes at the street level and usually identify house numbers. However, map applications do not provide ownership information, and the individual will still need to use the address to conduct other searches.
Additionally, some states allow online access to parcel maps (property tax maps) which record property boundaries, ownership, and value.14 Each lot within a jurisdiction is assigned a parcel number which can be used to find the owner. This is particularly helpful when an address is unknown.
When parcel maps are available online, they can be accessed through county assessor websites. The assessor can also assist with reading and interpreting parcel maps.8
How To Find Out Who Owns a Property by State
Remember that fool-proof method mentioned earlier for how to find out who owns a property in every state? Well, the method for finding property owners in all 50 states is the same technique visited in a previous section: using tax assessor or county clerk resources to find property records. Sometimes these records are available online, but when they are not, an in-person visit can be very useful.
The table below provides links to each state’s property tax office or revenue office over property taxes.
Follow the relevant link to find contact information for state and local offices, links by the county to local offices, and in some cases, a statewide property search tool.
How To Find Out Who Owns a Property in Maryland
Curious about how to find out who owns a property in the state of Maryland? The state of Maryland is one of several states with an online https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/25ind/html/06asses.htmlstate-whttps://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/25ind/html/06asses.htmlide property search database. To access the database and find the desired property information:
Step 1: Visit Maryland’s Real Property Data Search20 Page
Step 2: Select the Relevant County From the Drop-Down List and the Search Method From the Drop-Down List
The search method options include street address, map/parcel, property account identifier, and property sales. In most situations, selecting “street address” will be the best option.
Step 3: Input the Street Number (If Known) and Street Name
The street number is not required to proceed. Do not enter suffixes to street names (e.g. If the street is called “La Plata Road”, enter “La Plata” only).
Step 4: Browse the Search Results for the Property of Interest
If the Real Property database does not find the needed information, Maryland’s State Department of Assessments and Taxation21 provides contact information for state-level administrators and county-level assessors. The table below lists the contact information for the Supervisor of Assessments in each county of Maryland.
| How To Find Out Who Owns a Property in Maryland by County | Supervisor of Assessment by County – Contact Information |
| Allegany County | Elizabeth Murphy
112 Baltimore Street, 3rd FloorCumberland, Maryland 21502
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (301) 777-2108
F: (301) 777-2052
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Anne Arundel County | Denise Herndon
45 Calvert Street, 3rd Floor
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 974-5709
F: (410) 974-5738
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Baltimore City | Marie Smith
William Donald Schaefer Tower
6 Saint Paul Street, 11th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-1608
Hours: 8:00 to 5:00
P: (410) 767-8250
F: (410) 333-4626
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Baltimore County | Kathleen Phillips
Hampton Plaza
300 East Joppa Road, Suite 602
Towson, Maryland 21286
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 512-4900
F: (410) 321-2119
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Calvert County | M. Edward Heilman
State Office Building
200 Duke Street, Room 1200
Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (443) 550-6840
(866) 629-9882
F: (443) 550-6850
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Caroline County | Keith Bobbick
Denton Multi-Service Center
207 South 3rd Street
Denton, Maryland 21629
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 819-4450
F: (410) 819-4441
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Carroll County | Lumen Norris
15 E. Main Street, Suite 229
Westminster, Maryland 21157
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 857-0600
F: (410) 857-0128
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Cecil County | Jayme Dunn
District Court Multi-Service Center
170 East Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 996-2760
F: (410) 996-2770
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Charles County | Nicole Ramstedt
Southern Maryland Trade Center
101 Catalpa Drive, Suite 101A
La Plata, Maryland 20646
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (301) 932-2440
F: (301) 932-2189
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Dorchester County | JoAnn Kuneman
501 Court Lane
P.O. Box 488
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 228-3380
F: (410) 228-3704
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Frederick County | David Etter
5310 Spectrum Drive, Suite E
Frederick, Maryland 21703
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (301) 815-5350
F: (301) 663-8941
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Garrett County | Philip Smith
County Courthouse
317 East Alder Street, Room 106
P. O. Box 388
Oakland, Maryland 21550
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (301) 334-1950
F: (301) 334-5018
E-mail:[email protected] |
| Hartford County | Christina Shrodes
Mary E.W. Risteau District Court Multi-Service Center
2 South Bond Street, Suite 400
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 836-4800
F: (410) 838-5914
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Howard County | Manya Archie
District Court Multi-Service Center
3451 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 480-7940
F: (410) 480-7960
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Kent County | Octavia Pauls
114-A Lynchburg Street
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 778-1410
F: (410) 778-1525
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Montgomery County | Ava McIntyre-Garvey
30 West Gude Drive, Suite 400
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (240) 314-4510
(240) 314-4530
F: (301) 424-3864
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Prince George’s County | Shannon Porter
14735 Main Street, Suite #356B
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772
Hours: 8:30 to 4:30
P: (301) 952-2500
F: (301) 952-2955
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Queen Anne’s County | Matthew Bevins
Carter M. Hickman District Court Multi-Service Center
120 Broadway, Suite 7
Centreville, Maryland 21617
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 819-4160
(866) 444-0024
F: (410) 819-4170
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Somerset County | Leslie G. Pruitt
11545 Somerset Avenue
Princess Anne, Maryland 21853
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 651-0868
F: (410) 651-1995
E-mail: [email protected] |
| St. Mary’s County | Michael Degen
Carter Building
23110 Leonard Hall Drive, Room 2059
P.O. Box 1509
Leonardtown, Maryland 20650-1509
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (301) 880-2900
F: (301) 475-4856
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Talbot County | Lesley Jackson
29466 Pintail Drive, Suite 12
Easton, Maryland 21601
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 819-5920
F: (410) 822-0048
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Washington County | Melissa Adelsberger
3 Public Square
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (301) 791-3050
F: (301) 791-2925
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Wicomico County | Christine Duma
Salisbury District Court Multi-Service Center
Box #8
201 Baptist Street
Salisbury, Maryland 21801-4962
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 713-3560
F: (410) 713-3570
E-mail: [email protected] |
| Worcester County | Amy Smith
One West Market Street, Room 1202
Snow Hill, Maryland 21863
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
P: (410) 632-1196
F: (410) 632-1366
E-mail: [email protected] |
Most states have similar lists.
In order to search any state’s county or municipality records, follow the steps outlined in the Maryland example.
How To Find Out Who Owns a House
For any person curious about other people residing on their street, public records are a terrific way to gather information about a community or a specific neighbor. While the most straightforward way to inquire is by contacting the owner directly, asking around the neighborhood can also generate a lot of useful information.8
For those who prefer a not-face-to-face route, using the house address to search public records is probably the best alternative. The county recorder or clerk usually holds the deeds and records of sale for homes in their jurisdiction. The county tax assessor holds property tax records which list homeowner information as well. County records can often be found online. Further, public library searches can produce an abundance of information about home ownership.4
A quick internet search of the address may yield owner information, and a government database search is almost certain to list current owners.
If none of these free options pan out, seeking help from a real estate agent, running a title search, or using a professional online service are a few more costly options to obtain needed information.
How Do I Find Out Who Owns an Old House?
Many people are enchanted by old homes and fascinated with the history behind them. The process for discovering the homeowner of a currently inhabited house is the same as the process of finding new homeowner information. If a house is uninhabited or abandoned, the situation is a bit different.
With an abandoned home, the option of making direct contact with the current resident is no longer on the table. Additionally, neighbors may be limited in how far back their knowledge and memory of the house’s history goes.
Public records searches will generate the most complete information for old houses. Visit the public library or the county clerk’s office to find records of sales and old deeds.
When seeking ownership information about a historic home, access the National Register of Historic Places22 or the relevant State Historic Preservation Office.15
How To Find Out Who Owns a Plot of Land
Finding out who owns a plot of land can be a bit trickier than identifying a homeowner, as there may not be a door to knock on or neighbors to ask for information. Often, undeveloped or uninhabited plots of land do not have readily accessible address information, particularly in rural areas.
Luckily, modern map apps such as Google Maps have excellent tools for exploring land features. Using Google Maps, an individual should at least be able to identify the street or road name where the land is located and may be able to approximate a number based on nearby addresses.
With an address or partial address in hand, visit the county tax assessor or recorder website and search the online database (when available). Some states also have online parcel maps which provide an abundance of information about the property in question. Typing in the “state name + parcel map” should pull up available maps.7
How To Find Out Who Manages a Property
Sometimes, it may be important to find out who manages a property. Real estate investors may be interested in speaking with the current property manager to gather information about property rental or purchase.
Tenants at the property should be able to provide information about the property manager. Quick online research usually generates ample data about property management, as well. If all else fails, notices of default from the county courthouse contain records of any payment failure from a property manager.3
Wondering how to find out who owns a property that is managed by someone else? This is an additional hurdle where property management and limited liability companies (LLCs) are involved.4 While online searches generally reveal property managers with relative ease, property owners are not as easy to uncover in these cases. Fortunately, public record searches for property deeds will have owner information listed, so acquiring the owner’s name can be as easy as a visit to the public library or county recorder’s office.4
What Is a Property Title Search?
The property title is a legal document that lists the owners of the property. A title search is conducted to make sure there are no additional parties with a legal claim to or against the property. A property title search can look at everything from land records and liens to bankruptcy filings and divorce settlements to determine if a property is a potential financial liability.9
How Do I Do a Property Title Search in PA?
For residents of Pennsylvania, knowing how to get a Pennsylvania property title search is quite helpful. Because title searches tend to be fairly complicated and involved, it is not recommended to conduct an independent title search. Follow these steps for a property title search in Pennsylvania:9
Step 1: Contact a Real Estate Attorney for Assistance and Guidance With the Title Search Process
Step 2: The Attorney Conducts Research at the County Tax Assessor’s Office, The County Recorder’s Office, And Even The County Courthouse for Comprehensive Information on a Property’s Financial Holdings
Step 3: Wait for the Title Search Results and Pay the Attorney Fee
Title searches typically take longer for older homes with more history. Attorney fees can be high, and some individuals may opt to conduct the title search themselves. Be aware that this route has a higher risk of error.
There are many reasons why an individual may need to know how to find out who owns a property, and luckily, there are also many resources to gather this valuable information. Consult this article for guidance on how to find out who owns a property for free in all 50 states.
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Find Out Who Owns a Property
