Maryland Property Records
Table of Contents
What are Maryland Property Records?
Maryland property records are useful for understanding the ownership history of a piece of property and finding out the current owner. The Registry of Deeds maintains the land records for each county in Maryland.
The state of Maryland has a repository of all public records pertaining to real property. This includes information on ownership, transfers, mortgages, and liens. The repository is kept by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
To access these records, interested parties need to create an account at mdlandrec.net. After creating an account, users can search for deeds, mortgages, or liens.
Where to Find Maryland Property Records
As noted above, the Registry of Deeds is responsible for maintaining Maryland property title records in each county. The office is located in the county courthouse.
The Department of Assessments and Taxation also maintains a website to access public records. You can also use the computer terminals in the office to access these records.
Some counties like Baltimore and Frederick also have a search tool on their websites. To find the corresponding records, you can enter an address, owner's name, or parcel ID.
InfoTracer can also be of help if you are looking for property records. The search tool can provide you with a full report containing the deed history, mortgage information, property taxes, etc.
What Information Can You Find in Maryland Property Records?
Information in Maryland property records is helpful for many reasons. For instance, if you are planning to buy a property, it is essential to check the ownership history to see if there are any outstanding liens or mortgages.
The records can also tell you how much the property has been taxed over the years and how much the current owner paid for the property. This information can help negotiate a price for the property.
Some of the most common pieces of information found in property records are:
- The names of the current and previous owners
- The date of the last sale
- The address of the property
- The size of the property
- Property taxes owed
- Mortgages on the property
- Liens against the property
- Zoning information
- Deed history
- Assessor's Parcel Number (APN)
- The legal description of the property
The best way to search property records is through official channels or using InfoTracer to provide a complete picture.
Maryland Property Tax Records
While Maryland's average effective property tax rate is 1.06%, property values are high in some areas of the state, resulting in high property tax bills. The median annual property tax bill in Maryland is $5,582.
The local government also assesses properties across the state, unlike many other states where the responsibility falls to the county. The assessment happens every three years, and property owners receive a notice in the mail informing them of their new assessment.
Montgomery County is the most populous county in Maryland, and it also has the highest median home value at $476,500. The county's average effective property tax rate is 0.94%. While it has a low rate compared to the rest of the state, the high home values result in a median annual property tax bill of $4,498.
Allegany County has the lowest median home value in Maryland at $119,200. The county also has the state's lowest effective property tax rate at 1.24%. Even with a low rate, the median annual property tax bill in Allegany County is $1,478.
Maryland Registry of Deeds Offices
The Registry of Deeds is the office in Maryland that maintains deed records for all 23 counties. The office is in charge of preserving land records in the county, such as deeds, mortgages, and liens.
Below are the addresses and contact information for some of the Registry of Deeds offices in the state:
Anne Arundel County Recorder of Deeds
PO Box 71
Annapolis, Maryland, 21404
Phone: 410-222-1397
Fax: 410-222-1087
https://www.aacounty.org/
Baltimore County Recorder of Deeds
PO Box 6754
Baltimore, Maryland, 21285
Phone: 410-887-2651
Fax: 410-887-2834
https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/
Carroll County Recorder of Deeds
55 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland, 21157
Phone: 410-386-8710
Fax: 410-857-3667
https://www.courts.state.md.us/clerks/carroll
Frederick County Recorder of Deeds
100 West Patrick Street
Frederick, Maryland, 21701
Phone: 301-600-1957
Fax: 301-600-2909
https://frederickcountymd.gov/7861/Record-a-Deed
Harford County Recorder of Deeds
20 West Courtland Street
Bel Air, Maryland, 21014
Phone: 410-638-3474
Fax: 410-638-8792
https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/
Howard County Recorder of Deeds
9250 Bendix Road
Columbia, Maryland, 21045
Phone: 410-313-5850
Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds
50 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
Phone: 240-777-9466
Fax: 240-777-9486
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
Prince Georges County Recorder of Deeds
14735 Main Street
Upper Marlboro, Maryland, 20772
Phone: 301-952-3318
Fax: 301-952-3768
https://www.princegeorgescourts.org/
St Mary's County Recorder of Deeds
PO Box 676
Leonardtown, Maryland, 20650
Phone: 301-475-7844
https://www.stmarysmd.com/circuit-court/
Washington County Recorder of Deeds
24 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740
Phone: 301-790-7413
Fax: 301-791-1151
https://www.washco-md.net/county-clerk/
Frequently Asked Questions About Maryland Property Records
How Do I Find Out Who Owns a Property in Maryland?
To find out who owns a property in Maryland, you can search the state's public land records. You will need the county where the property is located and the property's address or parcel ID number.
A deed reference number can be found on the property's deed and is sometimes called a document number or recording number.
You can use this information to search for property records in the state's online database. You can also visit the Recorder of Deeds office in the county where the property is located.
InfoTracer also has property records for Maryland, including ownership information, parcel data, and property value history.
How Do I Find Property Details Online?
As mentioned above, the state of Maryland offers an online database where you can search for property records. You will need to create an account and log in to access the database.
You can also find property records on InfoTracer, where you can access thousands of public records for properties in Maryland.
Where are Deeds Recorded in Maryland?
The Land Records Department in each county in Maryland is where deeds are typically recorded.
There are specific requirements that must be met for a deed to be recorded, and the fees vary by county.
To record a deed in Maryland, you must submit a "certificate of preparation" prepared by an attorney.
Make sure to check with the Recorder of Deeds office in the county where you will be recording the deed for specific requirements.
How Do I Find Out About Maryland Unclaimed Property?
The Comptroller of Maryland is responsible for handling unclaimed property in the state.
You can search for unclaimed property on the Comptroller's website. There is no need to create an account to search for property.
You can also call the Comptroller's office to inquire about unclaimed property.
InfoTracer also has a database of unclaimed property in Maryland and other public records.