How do you find out how much someone paid for a house?

Question

Like is there a way that someone could find out how much I paid for a house without asking me..and is this available to them for free?

Answer 1

Its public record. Your county auditor's office (or whatever agency in your area is responsible for assessing property taxes and recording deeds) should have this information.

In fact, the information is available on the web in some areas. Lucas County, Ohio (where the City of Toledo is located) is one example of such a county, but there are others.

See here: http://www.co.lucas.oh.us/real_estate/AREISmain/areismain.asp

On that site, you can search properties in Lucas County, Ohio by address, or by the name of the owner. And it does include the amount paid for the house, who the mortgage is through, etc. You may want to check your county's website to see if they have similar information posted. If not, a person could go to the actual office and obtain it.

Answer 2

In Texas how much you paid for the house is not public record. How much you borrow is public record and that may give them an idea. In a lot of states they tax the sale of real estate based on sales price and so the price is public record and someone could look it up for free.

If the person is in Texas and has a friend that is a Realtor they may can look the info up on the MLS even if it has been four or five years since you bought it (but not much longer).

Answer 3

Why does it matter? Are you selling the house exactly like it was for more money? If you've put some work into the house, I think you have a right to sell it for more.

Otherwise, like everyone else said, I'm sure they could find out somehow, if they really wanted to. I don't know if people would do that or not though.

Answer 4

Yes, there are ways to find out this information. It requires a little leg work, but the information is part of the local government or county government public information system.

Even when the deed states "One ($1.00) Dollar and other valuable consideration. . ." , the information is still public knowledge and becomes part of the public domain.

In the county where the property is located, go to the County Court House. Go to the Recorder of Deeds Office or the office where real estate transactions are recorded.

You can do this with any property in any county: Give the clerk, behind the counter, the exact address of the property. She/He should be able to tell you how to look at your deed or how to get a copy of your deed.

On one of the deed's pages - usually the last - there are stamps or a typed statement stating the amount of transfer tax paid on the property on the date the property was settled/closed/went to escrow and title was transferred to you.

At the time of settlement/closing/escrow, that transfer tax is paid to the title company. The title company forwards that amount together with the recording fee, the Deed and other required papers to the Court House.

In the county where I live in Pennsylvania, a one (1%) percent transfer tax is paid to the state/Commonwealth by the Seller ("Grantor") of the property AND a one (1%) percent transfer tax is paid to the County by the Buyer ("Grantee") of that same property.
Example: You paid One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00) Dollars for your home.

When the papers get to the Court House:
1] The Recorder of Deeds Office (or one of the court house clerks/employees) stamps the amount of One Thousand, Five Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars on the Deed.
2] Then your Deed is recorded with a Deed Book and Page Number. (The other applicable documents the Seller and/or you signed are also recorded)
3] The Deed is then photocopied or scanned into the Court House's public document system. The Deed and the related documents - including a mortgage, if required - are part of the public domain.
4] The Deed and other documents are returned to the title company and the title company sends you your deed and your documents. They also send the Seller his/her/their/its applicable documents.
5] Any one having an interest in you or your property can go to the Court House or go on line to the Court House's web site and view or even copy your deed and/or other applicable documents.
Included on that Deed the interested party is researching, he/she sees the amount of the transfer tax paid in the amount of One Thousand, Five Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars.
Multiplying $1,500 times 100 tells that person doing the research, the amount - $150,000.00 - you paid for the property.

[All the above steps are simplified.]

I wish you well.

VTY,
Ron B.

Answer 5

Depends on where the house is. In many jurisdictions, housing prices are a matter of public record, for tax reasons or otherwise, and anyone can see them. Examine some properties with zillow.com to see this in action.

Answer 6

It is probably public record, although it could take awhile to show up.
If you know where to look, it can also be found on www.zillow.com, but it could take several months to show up there too.
YES. it's all FREE info.

Answer 7

The county's tax appraisal website will have the house's appraised tax value. You could probably come to a reasonable estimate on the selling price from that information.

Answer 8

In Oregon, the information is available from the county tax assessor and it is free info.

Answer 9

Zillow.com or the country records