Are you thinking about buying a piece of property but want to verify who the current owner is? In this article, we will guide you on how to check property ownership in Castilla County, Colorado, completely for free. It’s crucial to perform this check as part of your due diligence process to ensure you’re not falling into a scam or trying to purchase property from someone who doesn’t have the legal rights to sell it.
Step 1: Gather the Necessary Information
Before we start, you’ll need two pieces of information: the county name and the parcel number, also known as an APM (Assessor’s Parcel Number). If you found the property online on a land buying website or marketplace, you can usually find the parcel number in the listing description. If it’s not provided, make sure to ask the seller for it. If they cannot provide the parcel number, it’s a red flag, indicating a potential issue with the property’s title.
Step 2: Access the Assessor’s Page
To begin your property ownership search, visit the official website of Castilla County. Use search terms like “Castilla County parcel search” on Google to find the correct page. Look for keywords such as “online parcel search” or “Assessor’s personal search.”
Step 3: Perform the Ownership Search
Once you’ve reached the Assessor’s page, enter the parcel number you obtained earlier. After submitting the query, the search results will display the current owner’s name. In our example, the property is owned by Larry Zappanotti. Castilla County’s search feature even allows you to access additional information, such as transaction history and purchase prices, if available.
Step 4: Verifying the Information
It’s important to note that online databases maintained by assessors’ offices might not always be up to date. Therefore, if you notice any discrepancies between the online record and the information provided by the seller, consider requesting a copy of the recorded deed. You can then contact the assessor’s office or the clerk of records office to verify the accuracy of the deed.
Remember, it may take some time for the assessor’s office to update their database. Stay patient and ensure proper verification before proceeding with the land purchase.
By following these steps, you can confidently determine the property ownership status in Castilla County without spending any money on subscription-based services.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Knowing who owns a property is the vital first step in your land buying due diligence process. In this article, we’ve provided a free method to check property ownership in Castilla County, Colorado. By obtaining the county name and parcel number, accessing the assessor’s page, and verifying the information, you can make informed decisions and avoid potential scams.
In the next part of our video series, we will discuss another crucial due diligence question: property back taxes and debts owed. Stay tuned for part two, where we will guide you through the process of finding this information.
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If you have any questions or need further clarification, please leave a comment below, and we will be happy to assist you. Thank you for watching, and we look forward to helping you in your land buying journey.