Minnesota is the 12th largest state in the U.S., with a length of 400 miles and a width of 350 miles. More than 5.5 million people call Minnesota home, and many of them (3.5 million) live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Minnesota is nicknamed the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", but there is actually more than that. Along with the lakes offering residents lots of water activity, the state also has 680 miles of rivers. Bob Dylan, Judy Garland, Garrison Keillor, Charles A. Lindberg Jr., and Laura Ingalls Wilder all hail from Minnesota. A big state like Minnesota, which has a lot of land, produces millions of property records.

Property records affect homeowners and their homes. Other impacted by property records are government offices, the courts, tax officials, realtors, title companies, attorneys, and private organizations. Minnesota property records are very important documents.

Keep reading to learn all about property records in Minnesota, what they are, the different types, how they are used, who manages them, where to find them, and how to change them when life changes.

Minnesota property records are legal and non-legal documents containing information about real property and its owner(s). There are dozens of different types, and people use them for various purposes. For example, deeds transfer ownership of real property. Appraisals and assessments value the property, and liens allow someone to foreclose and sell your home if you don't pay off your debts.

Sources of Property Records in Minnesota

Minnesota property records are scattered among many different agencies and organizations. You cannot visit one building and find them all there. For example, if you needed to file a deed in Minnesota, you must visit the county Recorder/Registrar of Titles office. The county tax assessor, auditor, and treasurer are responsible for county property taxes. The Minnesota Department of Revenue oversees all these county tax officials. Hennepin County offers many online resources, such as eCheck, debit card, PayPal, or Venmo, to help you pay your annual property taxes online.

Each county recorder/registrar of titles office is essential to local government. These offices handle a lot more than just property records. Some of their duties include:

• Recording and filing documents that pertain to real property, mortgages, and taxes.
• Maintain document indexes.
• Provide copies of records upon request.
• Process marriage licenses.
• File and maintain local ordinances.
• File notary commissions.
• Help customers find records.

How Property Records are Maintained in Minnesota

Each county recorder/registrar of titles has its own system for maintaining records. When someone files a new deed or other type of record, the clerk stamps it with the date, time, and official county stamp along with a unique identifier so they can easily find it again later.

Accessing Records at the Recorder/Registrar of Titles in Minnesota

You can easily access records at the county recorder's office by visiting them in person. You will have to check their regular business hours. You might also have to wait for them to find records, and they can charge you a per-page fee. Many of these offices also have online records and portals where you can search for them instantly. To print records, though, you may have to pay a small fee. Here are a few county websites to help you on your search journey:

Recorder/Registrar of Titles Locations in Minnesota

Before embarking on your property history search for Minnesota property records, you need to know where to look. You can find your county office easily by using this search tool, which helps you find the office you need.

When conducting a property history search, you will find many different types of property records. Some perform functions, and others are purely informational in nature. The most commonly found types of property records in Minnesota are:

Determining and collecting property taxes in Minnesota for a year takes two years. The assessment date, known as the 'tax or lien date,' is on the 2nd of January. It is when the two-year cycle begins and extends through the next year. Local assessors at the city and town levels conduct assessments and determine the market value used to calculate the owed property taxes. There is no standard procedure for conducting property tax assessments. However, all assessors must follow state regulations when conducting assessments. The standard assessment process is as follows:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants often accompany deeds and other property records. They both affect the land and property, and you must abide by both or risk losing your home.

Easements are rights-of-way that give someone the right to access property even though they don't own it. A good example would be a wireless company with towers positioned on private property. They can access the land to maintain these towers without asking the owner.

Covenants are rules about how land or buildings can be used. You will find these with gated communities and condo developments. These rules aim to keep property values high by dictating how common areas and even private land and buildings can be used. An example would be a condo development that requires all buildings and doors to be painted the same color for consistency.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are both types of maps detailing property boundaries. The difference is that plats include boundaries from neighboring properties, while surveys contain only the boundary of a single property. Surveys are often used in new construction, utility placement, and boundary disputes.

Historical Property Records

The Minnesota Historical Society has dozens of helpful resources to help you find out all about the history of a property. They may direct you to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) or other websites to find what you need.

Building Permits and Regulations in Minnesota

Building permits allow you to renovate, build new construction, and demolish buildings. Most new construction and renovations require a building permit. Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry handles issuing permits. You can learn more about the process and fees by visiting their website.

A property history search can fill in many blanks before buying or selling a property. Property records also come in handy during life changes and when you need to look something up or contact the owner of a property. Thankfully, you have plentiful options available when looking for property records.

Online Property Record Search

An online property record search is the best place to start. Using your favorite internet browser and search engine, type in the property address or current owner's name. See what comes up. You may get lucky, or you may have to dig deeper.

In-Person Property Record Search

To find property records, you can visit any Minnesota recorder/registrar of titles office or tax assessor's office. However, you can only visit during regular business hours, and you may have to wait and pay a fee per page.

Using Property Record Indexes

There are dozens of property record indexes online. Be careful. However, as you never know how current or accurate their information will be. Enter the property address or name into the search bar and review the results. Double-check them for accuracy, though.

How to Search Property Records by Address

It's easier to search for property records using the address. Enter the full Minnesota property address into a search bar.

How to Search Property Records by Name

You can sometimes use the current or past owner's name to find records. Type it in and see what comes up.

Owning your own home is a wonderful thing. However, when you own property in Minnesota, you must pay annual property taxes and maintain the place to retain its value. Your name and address will appear in property records as the legal current owner. Historical owners will also appear in a property history search.

Property descriptions are another important facet of property records. The legal property description contains map coordinates, maps, plats, surveys, and a worded description using landmarks and other details to make it easy for anyone to find it.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys are special land measurements that map the coordinates of a property to clearly define its boundaries. Surveyors use special machinery to perform land surveys. Survey records are stored with deeds and other property-related records. They are often used in boundary disputes.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

When one person believes another is trespassing on their land, a boundary dispute may ensue. These often end up in court, where a judge must decide who owns what land. Professional surveyors frequently provide expert testimony to help the courts make an informed decision.

Encumbrances like liens can drastically affect a property, and they show up in property records. Too many liens can make it hard to sell a property. They must be paid off before the house can be sold. There are two main types of liens: voluntary and involuntary liens.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are cordial arrangements that you agree to. For example, when you take out a mortgage, your lender gives you the money to buy the house, and you agree to let them place a lien on the property. If you fail to pay the mortgage, they can foreclose and sell the house to get their money back.

Involuntary Liens

Unlike voluntary liens, involuntary liens are imposed against your will when you fail to pay a debt. There are three main types, but you might see many other specific types during a property history search.

The Process of Property Liens in Minnesota

The process of putting a property lien in Minnesota goes as follows:

Real estate transactions create, use, and replace property records. Before the sale, buyers or sellers use them to gather information. During the sale, more property records are created to replace older ones.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

When buying property in Minnesota, you should collect as much information about the place as possible. You can do so by consulting property records. Some things to pay attention to are fair market value, taxes, insurance, renovations, liens, and foreclosures.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

When selling property in Minnesota, you must provide the buyer with certain disclosures. These usually pertain to whether the house has asbestos or lead paint. If you know about any material defect, you must disclose it.

Title Searches and Insurance

Most lenders require title insurance. It protects them and the buyer from anyone coming along after the sale and claiming ownership. Before the closing, the title company or attorney will perform a property title search to look for any title defects or breaks in the chain of title.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Minnesota

Foreclosures appear everywhere in Minnesota property records. They can make it more difficult for a house to sell, and regular buyers may not want to deal with the hassles and extra paperwork.

Pre-Foreclosures in Minnesota

Houses that are heading towards foreclosure are called pre-foreclosure homes. Investors search realty and county websites looking for deals to pick up cheap and sell for a profit.

When was the House Built?

Many times, someone just wants to know when the house was built. That is something you can easily look up in property records. Check building permits to find the original structure date and any renovations since it was built.

One critical piece of information found in Minnesota property records is the property value. This information is essential when buying and selling property. The value may change over time and quickly in certain markets or economic conditions.

Assessments and Appraisals

Assessments and appraisals are tools used to determine a property's value. Although similar, they differ in many ways. Tax officials use assessments to determine value, which does not always match the home's fair market value (FMV). Lenders and individuals use appraisals to ascertain the value of a property.

Property Records and Market Value

Fair market value is the yardstick used by professionals to evaluate property values against similar properties in the area. One of the most common methods used by appraisers is to compare the target home with others that sold recently in the area.

It's important to note that property records are public records. That means that anyone can access them and request copies at any time. They don't need permission or even a reason. They can visit the local county recorder's office or find them online.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public to provide a public chain of title and protect citizens from one government agency or office from having too much power over the people.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

Protecting your personal information is essential and can help you avoid identity theft and fraud. However, keeping your name and address out of public property records is impossible. You can contact government offices and websites to remove any additional information about you, such as your email address and phone number.

Property records are no different than anything else; they sometimes need to be corrected, amended, or changed. It's up to you to ensure that your records are up-to-date and complete. You never know when you might need them.