North Dakota is made up of 39,1 million acres of land, and nearly 90% of the land is farmland. North Dakota produces more wheat and honey than any other state in the country. The state also has more wildlife refuges than any other state and is a great place for birdwatchers or nature lovers. Lake Sakakawea has more coastline than the entire California Pacific Coast. North Dakota boasts the world's largest Holstein cow and buffalo statues. A few famous movies were shot in North Dakota, and some winter scenes for the popular film Fargo. North Dakota has 779,261 residents and 377,649 homes, meaning the state produces many property records each year.

Property records help sustain the realty industry and other property-related industries. They are created by local government, state government, the courts, attorneys, realtors, appraisers, and others who work with property.

North Dakota property records are official (sometimes legal) documents that contain vast information about real property and its owners. These documents, forms, and reports tell the story of the property, going back to its origins. Some records have a lot of detail, and others are sparser. Some also tend to overlap.

Sources of Property Records in North Dakota

It would be wonderful if all property records were held in the same place, but they are not. In North Dakota, property records are spread among a few government offices, the courts, and private companies.

For example, you must contact the local county recorder if you need to file a new deed in North Dakota. They are responsible for recording, filing, and maintaining records and must provide them to anyone who asks. The county recorder in Cass County is Deborah A. Moeller.

Property taxes in North Carolina involve three entities. The local county tax assessor sets tax rates for each homeowner. The local treasury collects the taxes and sends out bills. The North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner oversees local tax officials.

Building permits are also handled at the county level. If you want to build a new house, renovate your existing one, or demolish a building, you will need a building permit first. You can apply for one with the tax equalization office in the county where the property is. If you live in Ward County, they have more information about building permits on their website.

The county recorder's role in North Dakota is essential. These officials record, file, and maintain property records and other documents. They are responsible for patents, deeds, mortgages, bills of sale, security agreements, judgments, decrees, liens, and certificates of sale. They also provide copies of public records to anyone who requests them.

How Property Records are Maintained in North Dakota

Each county recorder has its own system of recording, filing, and maintaining records. However, whenever a new document arrives in the office, the recorder stamps it with the date, time, and a unique identifier to make it easy to retrieve later.

Accessing Records at the County Recorder in North Dakota

Part of the recorder's responsibility includes publicizing and providing access to each property record. The office has regular business hours during which the public can visit and request records. Some counties also offer access to records through their website. To make things easy, here are a few of the county websites.

County Recorder Locations in North Dakota

When looking for property records, you must search the county where the property resides. To find the proper county location, you can use the map provided by the North Dakota Recorders Information Network.

You will encounter many different types of property records that can fill in many blanks. It's best to get them all so you don't miss anything. The most common types of property records in North Dakota are as follows:

There are many reasons why you need to search for property records. You have many options when performing a property history search. Try each of the methods below to see what works for you.

Online Property Record Search

Start with a generic online property record search. Type the full property address into a browser search bar and see what results appear. You can then refine your search to find more records.

In-Person Property Record Search

Visit any of the local county recorder's offices and ask to see records. You can also pay a small fee to get certified copies. You must visit during regular business hours. Some counties have their records online accessible via their website.

Using Property Record Indexes

You can also try using one of the many property record indexes online. They typically have realty information and some other details, but the information could be outdated or incorrect.

How to Search Property Records by Address

Searching by the property address will yield the best results. Enter the full property address, including city, state, and zip code, into a search engine and review the results.

How to Search Property Records by Name

Although you can sometimes search using the owner's name, it's not the best method. Since many names are identical, you may have to wade through a lot of records to find what you need.

North Dakota has a lot to offer, including stunning views and unique geography. Owning a home in North Dakota is something to be proud of. But it does come with some responsibilities, like maintaining your home to keep the value up and paying your mortgage and taxes on time.

Did you know that every piece of real property has a legal property description? In North Dakota, these descriptions mention landmarks and other items to make it easy to find. They also include map coordinates to mark the exact location.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys measure land to determine exact boundaries and map coordinates. They use specialized equipment (you have probably seen it before) and are used before building a new structure, installing underground utilities, and in boundary disputes.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

Boundary disputes are common. They occur when one party believes that another is trespassing on their land and overstepping boundaries. These issues can get heated and end up in court, where a judge must decide. The courts rely on expert surveyors to help determine the property boundaries and settle the matter.

Encumbrances like liens can tarnish a property and its owner's reputation. Too many liens indicate a serious financial issue. Liens also lower the property value, which can make it harder to sell. Liens appear readily in property records for anyone to see. There are two main types: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are those over which you have control. You can choose to use your home as collateral to secure a loan. In return, you allow the lender to place a lien on the home until it is paid off. Even voluntary liens can lead to foreclosure and the loss of your home.

Involuntary Liens

You don't have any control over involuntary liens. When you owe money to someone, they can put a lien on your property to get it paid. Eventually, they will foreclose and sell your property to get their money.

The Process of Property Liens in North Dakota

The process of property liens in North Dakota differs depending on the lien type. The following is the process of mechanics or construction lines in North Dakota:

Real estate transactions are when property records become invaluable. Before the sale, many of the participants use property records to gather information. Things like the value, taxes, insurance, building permits, liens, and foreclosures will help the buyer make a decision. More records will be created during the process, and older ones will be replaced.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

Before buying North Dakota property, buyers should investigate all they can to learn as much as possible. Check out things like taxes, the value, and other items to make a better decision.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

When selling property, owners must disclose to potential buyers any material defects, such as whether the house has ever had lead paint or asbestos. You can use property records to find out.

Title Searches and Insurance

When you borrow money to buy a property, your lender will require that you purchase title insurance. The policy protects you and them in the event that someone claims to own the property after the sale. Your title company or attorney will perform a property title search before closing to head off issues like these.

Foreclosure and Property Records in North Dakota

Foreclosures appear in property records for all to see. A house in foreclosure will be less attractive to most buyers and valued lower. Any liens must be satisfied before anyone can buy it.

Pre-Foreclosures in North Dakota

Pre-foreclosures are homes that are in foreclosure but haven't yet been sold at auction. Investors seek out these homes to offer the owner money to pay off their debts. Then, the investor sells the house at a higher price for profit.

When was the House Built?

If you want to know when a property was built, you can easily find out by contacting the local county recorder's office and asking to see the first-ever building permit. You will see when it was built and who owned it.

One essential piece of information in property records is the value. These values appear in appraisals, mortgages, sales documents, insurance binders, and other documents. Property values can change rapidly due to inflation, the local real estate market, and the economy. The median home price in North Dakota is $282,300, which is relatively low compared with other states.

Assessments and Appraisals

Tax officials and appraisers use special formulas and processes to derive the value of a piece of property for a specific purpose. Local tax assessors calculate tax rates based on the assessed values of every property in the jurisdiction. These values do not always match fair market value (FMV) because the FMV fluctuates so often.

Licensed appraisers use one of several methods to calculate a property's value for mortgages and estate planning. They aim for a fair market value (what the property would sell for in the current market).

Public records and privacy do not go hand in hand. Your name, address, and other information will appear in public records whenever you purchase property.

Accessing Public Property Records

Anyone has the right to access public property records. The digital age gives them even more options for finding records. Not only can you visit the local county recorder's office, but you can also try searching the county website and using other online methods.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public for two essential reasons. First, it protects the public chain of title, showing every owner whoever bought the property (going back to the first one). Second, it prevents any local government office from controlling the people and having too much power. It's about transparency.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

You cannot remove all your information from public records and keep real estate sales private. You can, however, contact any of the offices and public sources that have your records and ask them to remove anything beyond your name and address. It could help protect you from fraud and identity theft.

It's up to you to maintain and correct your own property records. If something in your life changes, the local government office will not automatically update your records. You have to contact them and initiate a change.