Explorers Lewis and Clark were some of the earliest Americans to explore what is now the state of Oregon. The Hazelnut tree is the official state nut, and Oregon grows 99% of the hazelnut crops for the entire country. Oregon is made up of many lowlands, plateaus, and mountains. It borders the Pacific Ocean on one side, providing plenty of beachfront properties and water sports for the residents. The Beaver State of Oregon has a population of 4.24 million residents. That means a lot of property and even more property records.

The more people and properties a state has, the more plentiful the property records. These records impact the local government, the state, and the residents. They are crucial for many important legal situations and when buying and selling property. Realtors, attorneys, title companies, investors, government agencies, private companies, and even individuals use property records every day to gather information about a property or its owners.

Keep reading to learn more about Oregon property records, what they are, how they work, specifics to the state, the different types, where to find them, and how to change them during life events.

Oregon property records are official documents that contain information about a piece of real property, the land, buildings, and owners. They may include items about the current owner or even past owners. Some Oregon property records are legal documents held by government agencies, and others are more informal held by private companies or other entities.

Sources of Property Records in Oregon

Sadly, property records are not held by a single agency; they are scattered among different government offices, local companies, private contractors, and others. If you need to look up or record a deed, you will visit the recorder's office in the county where the property resides. For example, Multnomah County offers four ways for you to record a property deed. If you have a question about your property tax bill, you should contact the local county tax assessor. The Oregon Department of Revenue oversees all county tax assessors. If you are a contractor in need of a building permit, you can use Oregon's ePermitting System. Residents needing permits can use the state resource to apply.

Each county has a recorder's office that handles many administrative tasks for the county. One of its duties is to record and maintain property records. Once a document has been recorded, it becomes a public record, and the office must make it available to anyone wishing to review it.

How Property Records are Maintained in Oregon

Oregon county officials have the right to maintain property records using their own system. However, once a document is submitted, they stamp it with the date, time, and a unique identifier so they can locate it quickly. Many of these offices also scan and store records online for easy access.

Accessing Records at the Recorder's Office in Oregon

Performing a property history search is easy if you know where to go. Jackson County, Oregon, offers a handy tool for the public to search for and find public property records. To find information about some of the other counties, use the links below:

Recorder's Office Locations in Oregon

Oregon has many counties, and finding the right resource for records is essential. Use this list to find the county recorder's office you need, and then search online or visit for more information.

When you think about property records, you probably think about deeds, but there are also many other types with varying degrees of information on them. Some of the information will be about the land and buildings, and other information will be about the owners.

The county assessor determines a property's real market value every year, calculating its maximum assessed value. Property owners are taxed on the lesser value. Local assessors conduct the study and determine the property's value. The process of assessment goes as follows:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants frequently accompany deeds and other property records. These provide explicit instructions about how the property may be used. Easements are rights-of-way allowing someone access to the property even though they are not the owner. An example would be a town road leading to a quarry that passes over private land. The town could use the road anytime they like without asking the owner.

Covenants are most often found in gated communities and condos. They are strict rules that the owners must abide by. Some communities do not allow homeowners to have pets. If you wish to live in that area, you cannot have a dog or cat.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are both types of maps. Surveys only show the boundaries of a single property, whereas plats show the boundaries of all the surrounding properties.

The following are types of property surveys and what information they include:

Historical Property Records

Over time, a state's property records become massive. Many counties choose to offload their older records into archives and historical repositories. Although you might be able to find current records online, you might have to visit an archive building for paper historical records. Oregon's Secretary of State handles all archived records.

Building Permits and Regulations in Oregon

Before building a new structure, renovating an existing one, or demolishing a building, you need a building permit. If you are a contractor, you can use Oregon's ePermitting System. If you are a resident, you must use the state resource to apply for a building permit.

Searching for property records is an easy task. It can unearth a lot of valuable information, some that may even surprise you. Thankfully, you have a variety of useful methods for performing a property history search.

Online Property Record Search

The first thing to try is an online property records search. Type the full property address into a Google search bar and see what comes up. You might be surprised. If that doesn't yield enough information, try one of the other methods below.

In-Person Property Record Search

You can visit the government office that holds the records. In Oregon, that would be the recorder's office or tax assessor. You can also find historical records with the Secretary of State. You can only visit during regular business hours, and they may charge you a small fee.

Using Property Record Indexes

Try some of the online property record indexes to see what comes up. Just keep in mind that these repositories get their records from all over the place and may not be updated or correct.

How to Search Property Records by Address

It's always best to use the property address to find information. Enter the full address, including state and zip code, into any search portal you use.

How to Search Property Records by Name

Occasionally, you can also search using the owner's name. You may or may not find what you need.

Oregon is a beautiful state, and owning property there is fabulous. However, property ownership also means paying your taxes on time and, for many homeowners, keeping up with mortgage payments. Your name and address will appear in property records.

Legal property descriptions are essential pieces of information. They usually include plats, maps, coordinates, and a written property description, including natural landmarks, making it easy for anyone to identify and find it.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys are a process of land measurement. Surveyors use specialized equipment to measure land and determine exact coordinates for a specific piece of land. They are used before building a new house, utilities installation, and in boundary disputes.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

Boundary disputes occur frequently. Whenever someone thinks another person is crossing their property lines, they might make a fuss. These disputes often end up in court, where a judge will decide. The courts heavily rely on surveyors to provide expert testimony.

Too many liens on a property can ruin its reputation and that of its owners. Most properties have a mortgage lien, but the property value will drop when it gets into involuntary liens, and it could be hard to sell. There are two main types of liens: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are like mortgage liens and home equity liens. You choose them by using your home as collateral to support a loan.

Involuntary Liens

Involuntary liens are imposed on the property against your will for unpaid debts you owe.

The Process of Property Liens in Oregon

Creating and filing a property lien in Oregon depends on the type of lien. The following is a breakdown of how contractors and suppliers file mechanic liens in the state:

Real estate deals are the most common event where you will see property records throughout. Before the sale, realtors, appraisers, assessors, inspectors, and title companies may use property records to gather information. The buyer may check out historical property records to see how the value has changed. More property records will be created during the sale, and older ones will be replaced.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

Before buying property in Oregon, find out all you can about it. Use property records to fill in any blanks and look for things like the value, taxes, insurance, and building permits.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

Property sellers must disclose certain things about a house before selling it. For example, if they know that the foundation is crumbling, they must tell potential buyers. Other important items are whether or not the house has ever used lead paint or asbestos.

Title Searches and Insurance

When you take out a mortgage, the bank will require you to buy title insurance to protect them and you from any legal claims on the property after the sale. Usually, a title company representative or attorney will perform a full property title search heading off any issues like this.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Oregon

A house can end up in foreclosure in many scenarios. Once in foreclosure, the house can be harder to sell, and many buyers don't want to deal with the headaches. A foreclosure appears in property records and can sully the owner's reputation.

Pre-Foreclosures in Oregon

Although regular buyers may not want to buy a pre-foreclosure house, investors do. They can pick up homes cheaply and sell them for a big profit quickly.

When was the House Built?

Property records also tell you when the house was built. Look at building permits, going back to the very first one, and you will find the date when the house was built.

Property records often contain property values. The value is an essential bit of information helping you make an informed decision. Banks and other lenders require that properties be valued before a sale to ensure that the fair market value supports the loan.

Assessments and Appraisals

Tax officials use assessments to value pieces of property to set tax rates and charge residents their fair share. Lenders use appraisals to determine the value of the property and reduce risk. Sometimes, people hire private appraisers for estate planning and other reasons.

Property Records and Market Value

Assessments and appraisals can vary, and the assessed tax value may not always equal the fair market value. The fair market value is the yardstick used to compare properties in the same local area.

Property records are public records. Therefore, anyone can access them and collect information such as the owner's name and address. Sometimes, additional details about the owner will be present in public records. You can find public records online and in person at government offices.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public records that record and preserve the chain of title, showing everyone who has ever owned a property. They are also public to prevent any one government office from having too much power over the people. It is an effort of transparency.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

You cannot remove all your information from public property records. However, you can take steps to minimize your exposure to identity theft and fraud. Contact the office that holds your property records and ask them to remove anything beyond your name and address. Your phone, email, and other details do not need to be out there.

When life events occur, you may want to change your property records. When you need them, you want them to be correct and updated. The government office that holds them will not update them without you asking. It's up to you to keep yours current.