Property appraisals are important for county tax assessors, real estate investors, real estate agents, lenders, and just about anyone else who has a vested interest in a property. While appraisals offer valuable information to those who seek it, you might be wondering – are property appraisals public record?
Whether you’re just curious about the value of your neighbor’s property or want to learn more about the value of homes in your area, knowing the answer to this question is crucial. Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding it’s complicated. Read on to learn why.
What Is a Property Appraisal?
A property appraisal is an appraisal of a commercial or residential plot of land. The goal is for the assessor to assign a value to the home based on current market trends and the current condition of the house. These appraisals are done by appraisers, and appraisers tend to keep this information confidential unless it’s involved in a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) transaction.
Typically, appraisals are used when buyers want to purchase a home or if a seller wants to sell a property. However, they can also be useful for insurance claims and tax purposes. Also, banks may provide a free property appraisal in the event that a lien is being placed on the home.
Are Property Appraisals Public Records?
Unfortunately, property appraisals aren’t public records. These records are confidential and kept between the appraiser and the client. For this reason, you can’t always view the exact appraisal information or value of a home unless you’re part of the transaction.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions. For example, if a home is involved in an insurance claim and the case goes to court, there’s a chance that those records will become public. Also, appraisals involved in Federal Housing Administration (FHA) transactions tend to be public records once the paperwork is filed (usually after the transaction).
How to Find the Estimated Value of a Home
If you’re not the lender, realtor, or client of a real estate transaction, you’ll have to find the value of an appraisal a different way. The good news is that you have plenty of options at your disposal, with public records search tools being among the best. Learn more about how to do some of your own appraisal work below.
1. Publicrecord.com
The best way to find the value of a home, along with other details about the property, is to leverage a site like publicrecord.com. This platform allows you to search for a property using just the address. From there, the tool will comb through millions of public records and compile all available information in a comprehensive full report.
Within this report, you’ll be able to find the estimated value of the home via tax assessment records, real estate records, insurance claims, and much more.
What’s more, the fun doesn’t stop there because you can also find additional information about a home. Some examples of information you can find with publicrecord.com include:
- Owners of the property
- When a property changed hands
- How much the property is worth and how that’s changed over time
- Liens on a home
- Court records associated with a home
- Contact details for owners of the property
While this is a lot of information already, you’ll find that it’s only the tip of the iceberg, and a lot more information is available.
2. Tax Assessor’s Office
The local tax assessor will keep records of the assessed values of properties in their jurisdiction. Therefore, if you know what town the property is in, you can visit the assessor’s office and find the value of the home there. Some offices may also have websites you can check, and you can always use publicrecords.com to find out the right jurisdiction.
3. Real Estate Professionals
If you want to find the value of a property, there’s a good chance that real estate professionals can help you. Whether you’re working with a mortgage expert or a real estate agent, they’ll likely have the necessary tools to provide you with details about the value of a home.
Find the Value of a Property Today!
While property appraisals aren’t public records, that doesn’t mean you have to come up empty-handed in your search for the value of a property.
Instead, get creative and do a little appraising on your own with tools like publicrecords.com or by speaking with real estate professionals. At the end of the day, the information is out there; you just have to know where to look.