How do I find out if a property has a lien on it

How to Find Out If a Property Has a Lien on It

When purchasing property or managing your real estate assets, discovering whether a property has liens against it is crucial. Liens can significantly impact property transactions and ownership rights. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you determine if a property has liens.

Search Public Records at the County Recorder’s Office

The most official method is visiting your local county recorder’s office, register of deeds, or county clerk’s office. These government offices maintain official property records including:

• Mortgage liens
• Tax liens
• Judgment liens
• Mechanic’s liens

You can search by property address or the property owner’s name. Many counties now offer online access to their property records databases.

Obtain a Property Title Report

A title report provides detailed information about a property’s ownership history and any encumbrances, including:

• Current and past ownership
• Existing liens
• Easements
• Other potential title issues

You can order a title report from a title company, which typically costs $75-$200 depending on your location and the property type.

Request a Property Lien Search

Professional title companies and real estate attorneys can perform comprehensive lien searches. These professionals have expertise in identifying various types of liens that might be missed in a casual search.

Check Tax Records

Property tax records can reveal tax liens or delinquencies. Most counties maintain searchable online databases for property tax information.

Use Online Property Information Services

Several online services provide property information, including lien data:

• U.S. Title Records
• PropertyShark
• LexisNexis
• DataTree

These services typically charge fees for comprehensive reports.

Ask the Property Owner

If you’re considering purchasing a property, request that the current owner provide documentation showing the property is free from liens. A cooperative seller should be willing to address these concerns.

Common Types of Property Liens

Understanding different liens can help you identify potential issues:

• Mortgage liens
• Property tax liens
• Judgment liens
• Mechanic’s liens
• HOA liens
• IRS tax liens

Why Lien Searches Matter

Discovering liens before purchasing property helps you:

• Avoid unexpected financial obligations
• Negotiate better purchase terms
• Ensure clear title transfer
• Prevent future legal complications

Taking the time to conduct thorough research about potential property liens can save you significant money and legal headaches in the future.

There are various types of liens that can be recorded against a property and must be paid before clear title can be transferred to a new buyer. If you are searching for liens on a property that you own, a property lien report will show you what has been recorded against your own property. If you have judgments against you that have not specifically been recorded against the property, you likely already know about those. However, if you are researching someone else’s property, it’s important to find out what liens have been recorded against that property, but also what personal liens and judgments the owner may have pending. (Sometimes a judgment or personal tax lien will be outstanding but not specifically recorded against the owner’s property and not discovered until just before closing a transaction). In order to find ALL the liens and potential liens that may effect your purchase of a property, it’s best to search for property liens and run a profile report on the owner to discovery personal liens, if any, including judgments not specifically recorded against the property.

Cameron S.
U.S. Title Records
Customer support team