Where to find mortgage records

Mortgage records can provide important information and insight about the current owners, such as how motivated they may be to sell the property. Mortgage records show how much the owner borrowed on a home or how often the property has been listed for sale, which can help you decide how much to offer.

Mortgage records show when the lender transferred the mortgage to another lending company. Mortgage records help determine the current value of the property.

By CourthouseDirect. Subscribe to our updates. Categories Courthouse Documents 75 CourthouseDirect. About CourthouseDirect. Contact Info. Site Map. Partner Sites. Research Tools. You can either visit that county's public records or clerk's office in person, or check their website to see if a search can be conducted online.

For example, Middlesex, New Jersey has a search system that is accessible seven days a week between the hours of a. Camden County offers the public the option to perform a basic search for free, or pay a little extra for premium access.

The added benefit to the premium access is the ability to check the status of all documents submitted for recording and the option to print documents without a watermark. Once you've printed out the documents, take them to your real estate agent. This professional will be able to read and understand the figures within the mortgage records and help you come up with an offer to present to the owners of the property you're interested in.

Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer specializing in finance. At the center of everything we do is a strong commitment to independent research and sharing its profitable discoveries with investors. Georgia's Department of Revenue provides links to each county's board of assessor's office, which is where you'll be able to conduct a search to find someone's mortgage balance.

Although the physical office is open from 8 a. Although it is typically free to access public records, many agencies require a fee to print copies of the documents. The system holds mortgage records from to present day.

If you opt for the premium access, you'll be able to check for federal, municipal and construction liens, as well as print documents without a watermark. Title companies are another important resource when shopping for a property. You can request the title company do a title search, which will reveal whether there are any judgments or liens against the property.

You'll want to add the balance of these debts to the remaining mortgage balance to determine the total amount that the seller owes. Some counties may not display information online; however, you can initiate a request in person, in writing or by phone. Go to the county recorder's office or local courthouse to find recorded mortgages. In states such as California, deeds, liens, mortgage documents and various types of land documents are available for review in the recorder's office.

Check with the tax assessor or other municipal office where you live for more details. You may also locate information in court records that have not been updated on various websites.