Land records · Mortgage lookup · October 11, 2026
How to Find Out If a House Is Paid Off: Public Records
How to find out if a house is paid off: search county records for each mortgage or deed of trust, then look for a recorded satisfaction or release.
People wonder whether a house is paid off for all kinds of reasons: sizing up an estate after a parent dies, checking a seller's story, sorting out a divorce, making an offer on a property that is not listed, or simply making sure your own lender cleaned up its paperwork. The balance on a loan is private, but the fact that a loan exists, and whether it has been released, is usually written into the county's public land records. This guide explains how to find out if a house is paid off using those records, what the documents look like, and why the answer is not always clear-cut. Office names and online search tools differ by county, so expect some local variation.
How mortgages show up in public records
When someone borrows against a house, the lender records a security document with the county recorder, register of deeds or clerk. In some states that document is a mortgage; in others it is a deed of trust. Either way, it is indexed under the owner's name and the property, and it stays on record until the loan is paid.
When the loan is paid in full, the lender (or the trustee, for a deed of trust) is supposed to record a document that clears it. Depending on the state, that paper is called a satisfaction of mortgage, a release of mortgage, or a deed of reconveyance. States set deadlines for lenders to do this after payoff. So the basic test is simple: every recorded mortgage or deed of trust on the house should have a matching release if the house is paid off.
Step 1: Identify the owner and parcel
- Find the parcel. Choose the state and county on the Platbookmapper land map and open the county parcel viewer. Search the address or click the lot. New to these tools? Read how to use a county GIS viewer.
- Note the owner name and parcel number. The parcel or assessor record shows the current owner of record and usually the date of the last sale and the deed's book and page or instrument number.
- Note the purchase date. Any mortgage tied to the purchase will usually be recorded the same day as the deed or within a few days of it.
Step 2: Search the recorder's index
Recorded documents live with the recorder or register of deeds, not the assessor. Our guide to assessor vs recorder explains the difference. Many counties have an online search; some charge for copies or require a free account, and a few still require a visit.
- Search by owner name. On a mortgage, the borrower is usually indexed as the grantor (or mortgagor) and the lender as the grantee (or mortgagee). Our walkthrough on using a grantor-grantee index shows how to read the results.
- Start at the purchase date and work forward. List every mortgage, deed of trust, home equity line, modification and assignment recorded under the owner's name for that property.
- Search by parcel number or legal description if the county allows it. This catches documents where a name was misspelled or an owner changed names.
- Filter by document type. Look for codes or labels such as MTG, DOT, SAT, REL, RECON or ASSIGN. Each county uses its own abbreviations, and most post a list.
Step 3: Match each loan to a release
Line up what you found:
| What you see | What it likely means |
|---|---|
| Every mortgage or deed of trust has a satisfaction, release or reconveyance recorded later | No open loans appear on record. The house is probably paid off, at least as far as the land records show. |
| A mortgage with no release | The loan may still be open, or it was paid and the lender never recorded the release. |
| A mortgage paid off by a later refinance | Normal. The old loan is released and a new mortgage appears around the same date. The new one is the loan to track. |
| An assignment of mortgage | The loan was transferred to another lender or investor. The release may come from the new holder. See what an assignment of mortgage is. |
| No mortgage recorded at all since the purchase | The buyer may have paid cash, or the house came by gift or inheritance. Check the deed and any earlier owners' loans. |
Releases often reference the original mortgage by book and page or instrument number, which makes matching easier. A release recorded by a servicer or by MERS (a national registry that many lenders use as a nominee) instead of the original lender is common and still counts.
Other clues in the tax record
- Who pays the property tax. When a lender collects taxes through an escrow account, the tax record sometimes lists a mortgage servicer or tax service as the payer or shows a “care of” line. Our guide to property tax escrow explains why. An owner paying the tax bill directly is a weak hint that there may be no loan, because many borrowers pay their own taxes too.
- How long the owner has held it. A house bought decades ago with no later refinance or equity line on record is more likely to be paid off than one bought or refinanced recently.
- Other liens. A paid-off mortgage does not mean the house is free and clear. Tax liens, judgment liens, HOA liens and contractor liens can still attach. Our guide on how to find liens on a property covers those searches.
What public records cannot tell you
- The balance. Recorded documents show the original loan amount, not what is still owed. Only the borrower and the lender know the payoff figure.
- Missing releases. Lenders sometimes fail to record a release, especially after mergers or servicing transfers. An unreleased mortgage from 20 years ago may have been paid long ago.
- Unrecorded debts. Private loans between family members are not always recorded, and unsecured debts never are.
- Very recent activity. Recording and indexing can lag by days or weeks.
When the answer really matters, as in a purchase, a probate case or a loan, a title search by a title company or attorney is the reliable route.
Checking your own house
If it is your home, you have more options than a stranger does:
- Ask your servicer for a paid-in-full letter, or a payoff statement if you are not sure the loan is done.
- Check your credit report. A paid mortgage shows as closed with a zero balance.
- Confirm the release was recorded. Search your county's records a couple of months after payoff. If no satisfaction, release or reconveyance appears, contact the lender. Many states give owners a remedy when a lender does not record one on time.
- Keep the original documents the lender sends back, such as the canceled note or the recorded release.
How to find out if a house is paid off: FAQ
Can I find out if a house is paid off for free?
Often, yes. Many county recorders let you search mortgages, deeds of trust and releases online for free by owner name or parcel. Copies of documents may cost a small fee.
How do I know if a mortgage has been satisfied?
Look for a satisfaction of mortgage, release of mortgage or deed of reconveyance recorded after the mortgage or deed of trust. It usually cites the original document's book and page or instrument number.
Can I see how much is owed on someone's house?
No. Public records show the original loan amount, not the current balance. Only the borrower and the lender know the payoff amount.
Does no mortgage on record mean the house was bought with cash?
It often does, but the house may also have come by gift or inheritance, or a loan may have gone unrecorded. Check the deed and the property's history before drawing a conclusion.
What if a paid-off mortgage still shows on record?
The lender may not have recorded the release. The owner should ask the lender or servicer to record a satisfaction or reconveyance. Many states set deadlines and remedies for this.
Is a paid-off house free and clear?
Not necessarily. Tax liens, judgment liens, HOA liens or contractor liens can still be recorded against the property. A lien search or title search shows those.