Researching public record deed transfers involves a minimum of effort if the transfer is recent, but can require more effort if the transfer of property being researched occurred in the distant past or in another part of the country. A deed is a document that transfers ownership of real estate. The deed lists the names of the former owners, and the new owners of the property, and the legal description of the property. The person transferring the property signs the deed over to the new owner.
Check the local newspaper. If you already know of a particular property in your area that has recently transferred ownership, you can find a brief listing in most daily and weekly newspapers of such information as the former owner, the new owner, and the amount that was paid for the property. This same information can be found in the online editions of newspapers.
Visit your county records office. Property deed transfers are a matter of public record, and may be inspected at your county records office. You will need to know the names of at least one of the parties involved, and the address or zip code you wish to research. The location of this office may be found in your telephone directory or an online search for the records office address and hours of operation. Many county governments, just as many cities and towns do, have their own websites where this information can be accessed (though the actual property transfer records will not always be available online). The records office may be in a courthouse, and may be called the Department of Real Estate, or Recorder of Deeds, or Register of Deeds, or County Recorder’s Office, or a similar administrative office denoting the archiving of public property transfers.
Research city directories. These volumes of city directories are available at many libraries, as well as city halls and town offices. They will list the names of former and new owners of a property, but will not list the amount paid for the property.
Enlist the aid of a public records researching company. There are many companies available online which will do records research for a fee. You will likely not need this service if the property you are researching is in your own neighborhood, though you may find it more convenient if your deed transfer research involves tracking the history of sales of a certain property in the past rather than a recent transfer, or if the property is located in another part of the country.
