There are many reasons you might want to find out who owns a property or piece of land. Suppose you’re on a walk in Nashville, TN, and you pass by a home that you instantly fall in love with and want to buy. Or maybe you’re researching an empty lot, tracking down a landlord, or looking into a potential investment. Whatever the case, finding out who owns a property is often easier than you think.
Many property records are publicly available, and with the right tools, you can uncover details in just a few steps – just make sure the website you use is legitimate. From online searches to government records and real estate experts, this guide breaks down 12 effective ways to help you find out who owns a property.
How to find out who owns a property
- Search online
- Ask the county tax assessor
- Contact the county clerk
- Search the registry of deeds
- Visit the local library
- Use a title company
- Pay for an online service
- Consult mailing list brokers
- Talk to an agent or investor
- Ask a lawyer
- Chat with neighbors
- Knock or leave a note at the door
First, find the address
Before you start searching for ownership details, you need to find the exact address of the property and/or land (aka “real property”). Here are three ways to find it:
- Go in-person: Most homes and some properties have visible addresses. Take a walk or drive to search for the address yourself.
- Online map tools: Programs like Google Maps or Redfin make it easy to figure out a property’s address. If you know exactly where the parcel of land is, zoom in on its location and the address should pop up. The satellite view can also give you a better idea of the entire plot’s terrain and features.
- Parcel maps: If other methods don’t work, your next step is to look at a parcel map. Parcel maps are a great way to identify properties and their boundaries. These detailed maps are often available for free through county assessors’ offices or GIS websites but vary by state and county.
If you’re searching for a specific property (not just a house), you may also need its property identification number (PIN), which is separate from the address. A PIN is usually located on a property’s tax bill or assessment notice, so going to your county can be a good place to start. Unfortunately, there are 3,143 counties in the U.S., many of which use different property identifiers, so the number can be challenging to find.
Once you have the address (and property number, if needed), you’re ready to start your ownership search.
1. Search online
The easiest way to find out who owns a property or house is to search for the address or property number online. Websites like Whitepages offer reverse searching services, and real estate platforms like Redfin have ownership information at the bottom of most listings. Keep in mind that information may be incomplete and inaccurate.
Another option is to go to your county’s website and look for a property that way. Many counties have online portals with all of this information in one easy place. If that doesn’t work or if you’re looking for more details, it’s time to dig a little bit deeper.
2. Check the local tax assessor’s office
A majority of people who own private property must pay property tax on it (usually excluding churches, libraries, schools, and religious buildings, among others). They pay these taxes to their county, which are collected by the county treasurer (often called the collector’s office). The county assessor determines a property’s true and fair value and retains a record of them.
So, if you’re wondering who owns that property next door, the best place to start is by going to your local tax assessor’s office. Assessors provide free, easy, and comprehensive ownership data for every registered property in their county. You’ll also get to see any special assessments associated with the property, like loans and other financial information. However, the information may be outdated depending on when it was registered.
Check with your local government office, call their information line, go to your city hall or meeting place, or email the office if you have any questions.
3. Contact the county clerk
Some properties aren’t listed with tax assessors for numerous reasons – perhaps it’s unregistered land, there was an administrative error, or nobody has ever paid taxes on it. If the county assessor couldn’t help, your next step is to contact the county clerk, sometimes called the register of deeds, recorder of deeds, or recorder’s office.
The county clerk often has a record of property deeds. When you find the deed, it should have the signature of the property owner, as well as the address and contact information. Depending on how long ago the deed was recorded, it may be out of date.
Most of the time, the information is available online, but this varies by location.
4. Search a registry of deeds
Depending on your area, you may be able to ask and manually search through the local registry of deeds. This is most common in New England and isn’t available everywhere, so contact your county if you have questions. If you look through it yourself, remember that some states have separate registry districts, which adds a layer of complexity.
5. Visit your local library
Your local public library can be a good place to research property records. Some libraries have old city directories, historical archives, maps, and other materials that list who owned or lived at certain addresses. Librarians can help you find these resources and point you to useful records or databases.
6. Use a title company
If the county can’t help you figure out who owns a property, your next step is to go to a local title company. “Title companies are experts at locating property information,” said the team at Title Forward, a Redfin company. “They don’t typically become involved with a transaction until the property is under contract to be sold, at which point they search the property’s title and identify any issues with the current owner’s title.”
If you’re willing to spend, some companies offer pre-contract searching services for a fee. Check with local title companies to see if they offer such services.
7. Pay for an online service
If you’re committed to buying an abandoned property or empty lot, paid online property search services can be a great option for finding the owner. Many property data tools can pinpoint the current owner and even provide contact details and information about the land registry, so long as you provide the address or even just the owner’s last name. You may also discover any existing liens or debts, which may help guide your next steps.
However, online services can be expensive and are often complicated and full of jargon. If you take this route, prepare to invest a significant amount of time and money.
8. Consult mailing list brokers
Mailing list brokers are a paid online information-gathering service ideal for bulk information gathering and outreach. Mailing list brokers gather detailed property information for marketing and real estate purposes. If you’re searching for information about one or multiple properties, you can pay to have these services provide ownership and contact details.
Keep in mind that these services can be expensive and incomplete.
9. Reach out to a real estate agent or real estate investor
Real estate agents or real estate investors may already have access to informational lists you would otherwise have to pay for. If you have a friend or family member who is a real estate agent, consider asking them for a favor. Agents can also provide advice if you’re navigating an online service.
10. Talk to a real estate attorney
If your search is complex – such as dealing with inheritance disputes, title issues, or unregistered land – a real estate attorney may have additional resources or contacts within the county to help you find the owner.
11. Chat with neighbors
Depending on how rural the property or land is, talking with neighbors can be a good way to find out who owns a property. They may know who owns the land, how to reach them, or its history and past owners. Even if they don’t have all the details, they might point you in the right direction.
12. Walk by and leave a note
When all else fails, try knocking on the door of that perfect house or leave a note if nobody is home. You may end up face-to-face with the current owner or talk to someone who knows the owner. If nobody answers, consider leaving a message with your contact information.
This can be the riskiest and most direct method to find out who owns a property, but you may get your answer quickly and easily. However, be mindful of privacy; some property owners may be wary of unsolicited inquiries. Avoid being intrusive and always respect boundaries.
Final thoughts
It can be confusing to find out who owns a property, so let’s recap:
- Most of the time, you can easily find the information by searching online
- Many governments have resources that are free and easy to use
- If this doesn’t work, the next step is to contact your county clerk’s office; they often have tax, title, and deed records for as long as the house has been registered
- Counties can often be slow to respond to requests. If it’s taking a while, ask a brokerage, title company, or paid online service to find the information you need
When you search for properties, always be cautious about misinformation and companies that use bad practices. Try not to be intrusive, and talk to the county if you have any questions. If you talk with neighbors or go to the property in person, remember to be kind, courteous, and understanding.
Discovering who owns a property is usually simple and has many advantages. You can guarantee that you’re talking with the legal owner of the property, and you may be able to convince them to sell even if it’s not on the market.