How to Find Property Records and Owners by Address

Start with the county assessor

The assessor, sometimes called the property appraiser or appraisal district, keeps a record for every parcel. Search by street address to see the owner name, mailing address for tax bills, parcel number, assessed value, lot size and building details. Write down the parcel number, also called the APN or folio number, because the other offices use it.

Use the GIS parcel map

Many counties run a GIS map where you can click a parcel to see its owner and parcel number. This is the easiest option when you only know roughly where a property is or the address does not match the county's records.

Check the recorder for deeds and liens

The county recorder, register of deeds or clerk records deeds, mortgages, releases and liens. Search the owner name or parcel number to see the chain of ownership, the sale date and price where disclosed, and any recorded liens or judgments. Some counties charge for document images while the index is free.

Taxes, permits and code issues

The county treasurer or tax collector shows whether property taxes are paid or delinquent. City or county building departments often publish permits and code enforcement cases by address, which can show recent work or unresolved violations.

When the owner is an LLC or trust

If the owner is a company, search the name on the secretary of state business search to find its managers or registered agent. Trusts are harder, since trust documents are usually not recorded. Some states also let certain people, such as judges or law enforcement officers, shield their names in property records. Find each state's assessor and recorder links on our Resources by State pages, for example California, Texas and Florida, or start with Search Tools.

Keep researching

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