How to read a county property record
A county property record lists the parcel number, owner of record, property and mailing address, assessed value, land use, building facts, tax bills and the last recorded sale. Read it in that order. The tax history and owner mailing address tell you most about whether the owner may want to sell.
Parcel number
The parcel number (also called APN, PIN or parcel ID) is the county's key for the property. It stays the same even if the owner or address changes. Use it to link the tax bill, the deed and the map. Formats are different in every county.
Owner and mailing address
The owner of record is the name on the latest deed the assessor processed. The mailing address is where the tax bill goes. If it differs from the property address, the owner is absentee. If the owner reads 'estate of' or 'heirs of', the owner has died.
Values
Counties show a market or appraised value and an assessed value, which is often a fraction of it. Values are set for tax, not for sale. Use them as a rough guide, not as a price.
Land use and building facts
The land use code says what the parcel is: single family, condo, vacant land, commercial. Building facts include year built, living area, bedrooms and bathrooms. Quality varies. Some counties have the data for every house, others only for some.
Tax bills and payments
The tax record shows the amount billed, paid and owed by year. Unpaid years mean a tax delinquent property. It is one of the strongest public signals of a money problem.
Sale and transfer history
The recorder or assessor shows past deeds. A price of zero often means a gift, an inheritance or a transfer between family. Some states, including Texas, do not make sale prices public. Check the deed type, not only the price.
Where to find it
Start with the county assessor, auditor or appraisal district website for the owner and values, the treasurer for taxes, and the recorder for deeds. Each county names these offices differently.
Examples of county offices behind property records
- Franklin County Auditor (Franklin County)
- Franklin County Recorder (Franklin County)
- Harris Central Appraisal District (Harris County)
- Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector (Harris County)
- Cook County Assessor's Office (Cook County)
- Maricopa County Assessor's Office (Maricopa County)
- Maricopa County Recorder (Maricopa County)
Every county names these offices differently. The data sources page lists the offices behind each county we cover.
Official sources and further reading
- USA.gov: find local government offices
- International Association of Assessing Officers
- National Association of Counties
- Legal Information Institute: deed
Outside sites are run by their owners. General information, not legal or financial advice.
Questions
Is a county property record public?
Yes. Owners, values, tax bills and deeds are public in every state. Some states hide sale prices.
Why does the county show a different owner than the seller?
The county may not have processed the latest deed yet, or the name on the deed differs from the person you spoke to. Check the recorder.
Can I rely on the assessed value?
No. Use it as a rough guide. Compare with recent sales and a repair estimate.
How do I read a property record faster?
A data provider joins all of these records into one page per property, with a score and the reasons.
How we make these guides
Written by the LeadCounty editorial and data team from official county, court and state sources and our own weekly counts. We name the office behind every number, say what we cannot see, and fix mistakes when you tell us. See our editorial standards and methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice. Refreshed weekly.
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