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Inheritance & $0 transfers

$0 transfer

The latest transfer was recorded for $0: usually a family transfer, a gift, a move into a trust, or a divorce. No-money transfers often mark a life change, and the new owner may not want the property. LeadCounty counts $0 transfer in every county it covers and refreshes the counts weekly.

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In this guide
  1. How it is defined in LeadCounty
  2. How many are on the list today
  3. Why it matters
  4. Where it shows up in public records
  5. How to find $0 transfer in 3 steps
  6. How we count it

01How it is defined in LeadCounty

Latest transfer was for $0 (plats, splits and annexations left out).

02How many are on the list today

$0 transfer is on file in 23 of 99 counties this week. The most are in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (201,673), Franklin County, OH (101,177), St. Louis County, MO (68,034); the typical county has 13,769. In the latest full week Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH recorded the most (248).

608,500properties are on the “$0 transfer” list across 23 counties today
584recorded in the latest full week
Weeklyrefreshed from the county offices
$0 transfer: owners on the list in each county this week, with the records of the latest full week and of the last 12 months. Largest first.
CountyOn the listLatest week12 months
Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH201,67324814,703
Franklin County, OH101,1779714,636
St. Louis County, MO68,034–0
Montgomery County (Conroe), TX40,961–29
Lorain County, OH29,328682,992
Delaware County, OH19,576301,941
Fairfield County, OH19,548121,369
Medina County, OH18,492261,963
Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), FL18,397–1,304
Greene County, OH17,743201,532
Licking County, OH16,060201,684
Union County, OH13,769201,305
Counted from each county's own records at the weekly refresh; 76 counties publish no records for this list. Totals only: the owners are in the app.

03Why it matters

No-money transfers often mark a life change, and the new owner may not want the property.

04Where it shows up in public records

Recorded deeds and the county's sales file; paperwork transfers (plats, splits, annexations) are left out.

05How to find $0 transfer in 3 steps

  • Step 1, find the record: recorded deeds and the county's sales file; paperwork transfers (plats, splits, annexations) are left out.
  • Step 2, match it to the property: join the record to the parcel by its parcel number and the owner's name and address, so you know which house it belongs to.
  • Step 3, add a second reason: stack $0 transfer with another list to see which owners have more than one reason to sell. LeadCounty does steps 1 and 2 for every property each week.

06How we count it

LeadCounty counts $0 transfer from each county's own records and shows the number for every county in the table above, refreshed weekly. A county that does not publish the record shows no count rather than a guess.

07How to use it

  • Stack with absentee owner: a family member who received a house they do not live in.

08Best stacks with $0 transfer

One list gives you a reason; two or three lists together give you owners with several reasons at once. The stacks that work best with $0 transfer:

  • $0 transfer + absentee owner: the owner gets the tax bill somewhere else, so the house is less personal to them.
  • $0 transfer + out-of-state owner: the owner lives in another state and manages from a distance.
LeadCounty editorial and data team

We collect official county, court and city records every week and turn them into scored, explained property research for investors and agents. Every guide is based on how these public records actually work.

How we make these guides. We write from official offices and statutes, name the source of each number and fix mistakes when you tell us. See our editorial standards and methodology. What changed: the counts and examples are refreshed weekly.

Related signals

inherited house empty porch rocking chair

Inheritance deed

The latest transfer was a death-related deed: an affidavit of death or survivorship, a certificate of transfer, a transfer-on-death deed, or an executor's, administrator's, fiduciary or heirship deed.What it means →house keys red ribbon family transfer

Exempt conveyance (family / trust)

The latest transfer was exempt from transfer tax: typically a transfer between family members, into a trust, or after a death.What it means →family photos estate heirs

Estate / heirs owner

The owner of record is an estate or heirs: the name reads 'Estate of', 'Heirs of', or names an executor or administrator.What it means →
A letter for $0 transfer ownersFor heirs (people only: companies and trusts are left out)

Dear [first name],

I'm sorry for your loss. I noticed the property at [property address] passed to your family [passed when], and I know that handling a house is one more thing on a long list.

If you are thinking about selling, I can buy it as-is: no repairs, no clean-out, no agent fees, and a closing date that suits you and the other heirs.

Send it in the app

The app fills in each owner's name and address and prints envelopes or labels.

Run the numbersWholesale MAO calculatorYour maximum offer, by the type of buyer you sell toARV × % − repairs − feeOpen the calculator →

Where $0 transfer is highest

Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (201,673)Franklin County, OH (101,177)St. Louis County, MO (68,034)

Lists that stack well with it

What absentee owner meansWhat out-of-state owner means

Glossary

List stackingMotivated seller

Questions

What does $0 transfer mean?

The latest transfer was recorded for $0: usually a family transfer, a gift, a move into a trust, or a divorce.

Why does $0 transfer matter to investors?

No-money transfers often mark a life change, and the new owner may not want the property.

Where does $0 transfer show up in public records?

Recorded deeds and the county's sales file; paperwork transfers (plats, splits, annexations) are left out.