How to search property records for free
To search property records for free, go to the official website of the county where the property sits. The assessor or property appraiser search shows the owner of record, parcel number and assessed value by address. The recorder, clerk or register of deeds search shows recorded deeds, mortgages and liens, usually by owner name. Most counties offer both at no charge; copies and certified documents usually cost a few dollars.
Key takeaways
- Start with the assessor search by address to get the owner name and parcel ID, then use them at the recorder.
- Recorder indexes are usually searched by name (grantor/grantee), not address.
- A few large counties, such as Los Angeles and Santa Clara, offer no online deed index; you request copies instead.
- Sites that ask for payment to show an owner name are usually private resellers of the same public data.
Official county property search links
| County | Owner & parcel (assessor) | Deeds & liens (recorder) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | Search | Request copies | Assessor search is free; the Registrar-Recorder offers no online deed index. Copies $5–6 + $3/page. |
| Cook, IL | Search | Search | Recordings are now with the Cook County Clerk. |
| Harris, TX | Search | Search | Appraisal district search needs no login. |
| Maricopa, AZ | Search | Search | |
| San Diego, CA | Search | Search | Online index searches by grantor/grantee name; APN search at kiosks. |
| Orange, CA | Search | Search | Online grantor-grantee index. |
| Miami-Dade, FL | Search | Search | |
| Dallas, TX | Search | Search | |
| Kings (Brooklyn), NY | Search | ACRIS | ACRIS shows document images from 1966 for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. |
| Riverside, CA | Search | Search | Combined assessor-clerk-recorder. |
| Clark, NV | Search | Search | Index online; images need an account and payment. |
| Queens, NY | Search | ACRIS | See Kings. |
| King, WA | Search | Search | |
| Tarrant, TX | Search | Search | |
| San Bernardino, CA | Search | Search | Combined assessor-recorder-clerk. |
| Bexar, TX | Search | Search | |
| Broward, FL | Search | Search | Beware look-alike private sites; use bcpa.net. |
| Santa Clara, CA | Search | Records info | The Clerk-Recorder no longer offers an online index; search in person. |
| Wayne, MI | City assessors (e.g. Detroit) | Search | No county assessor; cities assess. |
| Middlesex, MA | City or town assessor | Registry of Deeds | State-run registries (Middlesex North and South). |
| New York (Manhattan), NY | Search | ACRIS | See Kings. |
| Alameda, CA | Search | Search | |
| Sacramento, CA | Search | Search | |
| Palm Beach, FL | Search | Search | The Clerk says online search is free of charge and most uncertified copies print free. |
| Philadelphia, PA | Search | PhilaDox info | Search is free; printing needs a paid PhilaDox subscription. |
| Hillsborough, FL | Search | Search | Official Records index (1965–present) searchable online at no charge. |
| Suffolk, NY | Town assessors | Search | Ten towns assess; the County Clerk records deeds. |
| Orange, FL | Search | Search | |
| Bronx, NY | Search | ACRIS | See Kings. |
| Nassau, NY | Search | Search | Land records viewer may need an account. |
Not listed? Search for “[county name] county assessor” and “[county name] county recorder of deeds,” and check that the address ends in .gov or is linked from the county’s .gov site. Staten Island deeds are with the Richmond County Clerk, not ACRIS.
Free property owner search, step by step
Identify the county
The mailing city is not always the county. Confirm the county from the address before searching.
Keep: County and state.
Search the assessor by address
Note the owner name exactly as shown, the parcel ID (APN, folio or PIN) and the last sale date if listed.
Keep: Owner, parcel ID, sale date.
Search the recorder by owner name
Look for the deed that transferred the property to the current owner, then mortgages, liens and releases after it.
Keep: Instrument numbers and recording dates.
Open the document image where available
The index entry is not the document. Where images are available, check the legal description matches the parcel.
Keep: Saved copies or screenshots.
What a free records search can’t tell you
- Whether the title is insurable: only a title search and policy address that.
- Court judgments or liens filed outside the recorder’s index.
- Recent filings still being indexed (some counties lag a day or more).
- Unrecorded problems, such as open permits or insurance claims.
Questions people ask
Can I look up who owns a property for free?
Yes. The county assessor or property appraiser website usually shows the owner of record for an address at no charge.
Are property records public?
Recorded deeds and assessment records are public in every state, though online access and fees vary by county and some personal details may be protected.
Why do some websites charge for property records?
Private sites repackage public data. The county’s own search is the original source and is usually free to search.
How do I find property records by address for free?
Use the assessor search by address, note the parcel ID and owner, then search the recorder by that owner name.
Want it checked for one specific home?
Free county searches take time and stop at the index. Our pre-offer property check brings the owner of record, recorded liens, permits and flood zone for one address together, with every gap listed. Join early access; no payment now.
- Parcel & owner of record matched
- Liens, permits & flood zone in one place
- Gaps turned into questions for your team
Sources & method
County links are official government pages found and checked on September 25, 2026; some sites block automated checks, so their domains were confirmed through search and the county’s own site. Fees and access rules change; the county page controls.
- US Census Bureau: county population totals 2020–2025
- NYC Department of Finance: ACRIS
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder: fees
- CFPB: what is owner’s title insurance?
Reviewed September 25, 2026 by the PropertyDataCheck editorial team. Corrections: info@propertydatacheck.com. How we research and update guides.