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Deed records — what they show and what they don't
Every property transfer in the US gets recorded with the county recorder of deeds. These public records show ownership history, mortgage liens, and often the sale price. zipradar uses them carefully — aggregated counts only, never personal records.
Published 2026-04-25 · Last reviewed 2026-04-25 · methodology
What a deed actually contains
Property legal description (usually parcel ID or metes-and-bounds).
Grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer) names.
Sale price (or 'love and affection' for non-arm's-length transfers).
Recording date + book/page reference.
Mortgage details if recorded simultaneously.
Why public access matters
Public deed records are foundational to clear title. Anyone can verify ownership without trusting any private database. They're the reason title insurance works.
Title companies use them to detect breaks in ownership chains, undisclosed liens, or fraudulent transfers.
Why zipradar aggregates only
Specifically: deed records contain owner names + signatures. Republishing those creates doxxing risk and feeds people-search aggregators we want no part of.
zipradar shows the count of deeds filed in a ZIP over the last 30/90/365 days. Useful for market-activity tracking. Never the names attached to those deeds.
If you need an individual property's chain of title, go directly to the county recorder's portal — every county provides public access (usually free, sometimes per-page fees).
What the deed-count signal tells you
High deed-filing volume in a ZIP relative to its housing stock signals an active turnover market — typically faster price appreciation, more new owners, more competition.
Low volume in a hot region can mean low inventory (sellers hoarding) or homeowner stability. Read alongside median days-on-market from real-estate aggregators.
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