Property owner history is important information to know, especially if you plan on buying a property. It’s good to know who used to own it, why it was sold, and even the value of that property. In fact, even if you just want to learn more about a specific property, many tools are available to help you learn about historic places and people.
Unfortunately, finding information about property owners can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, this article takes you through everything you need to know about property owner history and how to find it.
Is Property Owner History Public Record?
First, it’s important to determine if property history records are even something you can find. Thankfully, this information is public record and kept at the county level in databases. This means that anyone can access this information. That said, some state laws may impact how accessible this information is.
How to Find Property Owner History
Property owner history is something you can find by visiting local county offices. However, there are also public records search tools that can help you find this information online. Plus, there may be some online databases you can check in your area. Learn more about how to find property owner history below.
1. UnMask
The best way to find property owner history is to use an online search tool like UnMask. What makes UnMask a great option is how easy the platform makes it to find property owner history. All you need to enter is someone’s first and last name, address, or phone number into one of the platform’s people search lookups.
From there, the tool will comb through millions of public records to help you find the information you’re looking for. What’s more, you can find a lot more than property owner history when you search with UnMask. In fact, you can find contact information, social media accounts, criminal records, and any other public records associated with a property.
It’s for these reasons that we recommend starting with this online comprehensive tool first, even before you try online databases or county offices.
2. County Clerk’s Office
If you know where the property is located, you can check with the County Clerk’s Office. Most county clerks will store records about property owners and the sale of properties. This may include details about the previous owners, current owners, and anyone else involved in the transaction.
In some cases, you even luck out and discover that the local county offices have online databases you can check. That said, if you don’t know which county a property is located in, we recommend starting with UnMask to point you in the right direction.
3. Check Local Libraries
This one might sound like it’s out of left field, but local libraries can help you find information about property owners. Many public libraries have a history section that allows you to look through historical information about your area. The result is that you can find plenty of information on previous homeowners and information about those properties.
Another benefit of public libraries is that librarians are often a helpful resource you can leverage. They may have more information about a town and the people who live in it. Plus, they can help you navigate those tricky databases.
4. County Assessor’s Office
Another resource you can leverage is the County Assessor’s Office. This office is responsible for evaluating the value of property in a county. For this reason, the office should have detailed records about previous owners and the assessed value of the homes. In fact, most of these offices will have detailed records that date back up to 50 years!
Still, you need to find the appropriate office that handles the jurisdiction of the property. This can be done by using an address lookup tool like UnMask.
5. Google Search
When in doubt, Google it out. You can enter the address into the search tool and see what you can find. If you get lucky, you may find results quickly. This works well for historic properties and celebrity homes. However, your results will end up limited if the property or its previous owners aren’t well-known.
To mitigate this, you can try running an Advanced Search or search for information with a picture of the property using a tool like Google Lens.
Find Information About Property Owner History Today
If you want to find property owner history, all you need is a reliable tool like UnMask. It will help you find everything associated with a property, from the current owners to the previous owners and much more.
That said, you can also leverage local resources like the county clerk, local assessor, and your public library.
