Colorado Property Records

Property records are legal and non-legal documents that contain information about real property and its owners. They are public records and easily accessible by anyone. The most common type is deeds, which transfer property from one person to another.

Sources of Property Records in Colorado

Unfortunately, there is no consolidated state source for property records. They are spread across different government offices, the courts, and private organizations. For example, deeds are kept by the Recording Division of the Clerk and Recorder's Office. Arapahoe County requires that you make an appointment to visit when looking for deeds. Each county has an Assessor's Office, which handles setting tax rates and mailing out bills. The Colorado Division of Property Taxation oversees all of the county assessors and reports to the State Board of Equalization. If you need a building permit, you will visit the Building Permit and Contractor Registration office in your county.

Each county has a Clerk and Recorder's Office. These offices file and maintain many different types of records. They issue marriage licenses, collect license fees, maintain property records, and provide deed abstracts upon request. Some, like Grand County, also handle motor vehicle registrations. Many Clerk and Recorder's Offices are the primary administrative offices for the county.

How Property Records are Maintained in Colorado

Each individual Clerk and Recorder's Office maintains records. They have a numbering system and stamp each document with the date, time, and unique identifier, making it easier to find them later.

Accessing Records at the Clerk and Recorder's Office in Colorado

You can easily access records by visiting the county Clerk and Recorder's Office in person. Check their regular business hours first. Some require an appointment, and others allow walk-in service. You may have to pay a small fee per page and wait while they make copies. To get you started here are a few of the county websites:

Clerk and Recorder's Office Locations in Colorado

Colorado has a great website that offers many resources to the public, including an easy way to find the Clerk and Recorder's Office location you need. Check it out.

Property records come in all shapes and sizes. They serve different purposes and pertain to different aspects of the property. Some of the most common types you will find in Colorado are:

Real property in Colorado is assessed for tax purposes every two years, during the odd year. Local assessors under the County Assessor's Office access properties within their jurisdiction per fair market values. The specific time differs according to the area. Local assessors follow procedures per the office's instructions. But the standard assessment process is as follows:

Easements and Covenants

Colorado easements and covenants accompany deeds and other documents. An easement is a right-of-way or allowance for someone other than the owner to access or use the land. A good example would be a telephone company that has poles on private land. They can enter the land anytime to maintain and repair their poles without asking.

Covenants are rules about how you may use the land or buildings. You see these often with condo communities and gated developments. An example might be a home situated near a wildlife preserve. The state or county may place a covenant on it preventing you from building and disturbing the wildlife.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are both types of maps. Plats show the boundaries of all neighboring properties, whereas surveys show only the boundaries of a single property. In Colorado, a survey costs between $226 and $851.

Basic information such as the following appears in a survey record in Colorado:

Historical Property Records

You can also consult historical property records during your property history search to learn about things like who owned it, how its value has changed over time, and any renovations or alterations made to the property. The Colorado State Register of Historic Properties has a listing of all historical properties and related information.

Building Permits and Regulations in Colorado

Each county in Colorado has its own office for building permits. You can apply for one as a homeowner or, better yet, have your contractor do it. The city of Denver has a helpful website explaining building permit laws and the process for obtaining one.

Performing a property history search is easy and provides you with many details about the home and land that you would never guess. You have a few options available to you when searching; they are as follows:

Online Property Record Search

You can start with a basic online property search. Just enter the full property address into a Google search bar and see what comes up. You never know what results you will see. You may get lucky and find what you need on the first try, but chances are you'll have to go further.

In-Person Property Record Search

To find additional property records, you can visit any of the Clerk and Recorder's Offices or other government agencies. However, check the office hours first. Some require an appointment, so you may have to wait and pay a small fee per page.

Using Property Record Indexes

The internet is full of various property record indexes. Realty firms, attorney's offices, and even title companies sometimes have public records you can search through. But be careful; these records may not be updated with the latest data.

How to Search Property Records by Address

A property history search works best when you use the full property address. Enter the address into a search bar of one of the Clerk and Recorder's Office websites, and you should easily find what you need.

How to Search Property Records by Name

On occasion, you can also search using the owner's name. This option is not always possible, and depending on when records were updated, you may or may not find what you need.

Owning your own home in Colorado is wonderful. However, you must pay your mortgage and taxes on time or risk losing your home. You also must understand that as a homeowner, you must maintain homeowner's insurance, and you are listed in public property records in the chain of title.

One detail in property records that you may not be aware of is the property description. This essential piece of data includes landmarks, map coordinates, surveys, and a detailed description so anyone can easily identify the property. The legal property description can be found on deeds, maps, taxes, mortgages, liens, and other documents.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys and land measurements are also critical details about a piece of property. Surveys help legally define property boundaries and are especially helpful in boundary disputes, new construction, utility placement, and other situations.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

Boundary disputes erupt when one neighbor believes another is infringing on their property. These frequently end up in court with a judge deciding on the outcome. The courts rely on professional surveyors to help provide details that validate the legal boundaries of the property.

Liens are encumbrances that can negatively affect a property if there are too many. They can make it harder to sell the property and complicate real estate deals. There are two main types of liens: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are agreements you make with lenders where you use your home as collateral for a loan. Examples would be mortgages, lines of credit, and home equity loans.

Involuntary Liens

Involuntary liens are placed on your property when you fail to pay a debt or large expense that you owe. There are three main types.

The Process of Property Liens in Colorado

Below is the standard process for filing a lien in Colorado:

Property records come up most often before, during, and after a real estate transaction. Realtors, title company professionals, and appraisers consult property records to gather information before the sale. During the sale, many new records will be created, filed, and made public after the closing.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

When buying property in Colorado, you want to learn as much as possible to make a sound buying decision. Property records can help with that and fill in any blanks.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

During the selling process, you must disclose to buyers certain information about lead paint, asbestos, and any material defects. For example, if you know the roof is leaking and needs replacement, you must disclose that information.

Title Searches and Insurance

When buying a house with a mortgage, your lender will require that you buy title insurance. This insurance protects you and the lender from any legal claims against the property after the sale. For example, if some unknown relative of the previous owner were to show up and prove they actually owned the property instead. Your title company will perform a property title search to avoid issues like these.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Colorado

Liens sometimes lead to foreclosure and auction sales. Foreclosures are another thing you will see in property records. Foreclosures can make it tricky to sell a property and complicate the closing. Any liens on the property must be paid off before it can be sold.

Pre-Foreclosures in Colorado

Although regular buyers may shy away from purchasing a house in foreclosure, investors often look for pre-foreclosure homes in Colorado to invest in. They can pick them up cheaply (usually far less than FMV) and sell them at a profit. Check realty sites and local government websites for listings of pre-foreclosure homes.

When was the House Built?

You may be curious about when the house was built. You can check property records, such as building permits, to see when the original structure was built and if any add-ons or renovations have been completed since then.

Property values are essential information in Colorado, especially when buying or selling property. The value is based on many factors and will change over time due to the economic climate and market. Fair market value (FMV) is the yardstick used when comparing properties of similar age, size, and condition. The FMV can also help indicate property prices in an area or specific neighborhood.

Assessments and Appraisals

Two types of models exist to value a piece of property: assessments and appraisals. Tax officials use assessments to determine the value and set a tax rate for the property. These assessments do not always match the fair market value.

Mortgage lenders and estate planners often use appraisers to form an opinion about the value. They have various methods of deriving an accurate value. The most common is when they compare the property against other similar homes in the area that recently sold.

Property records are public records, and anyone can view them anytime. The local government of Colorado makes it very easy to access records through its dozens of websites and search portals. For example, Douglas County has a search portal you can use 24/7 to find copies of deeds.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public to establish owners' "right to property". It becomes the public "chain of title", recording every owner going back to the first owner. It's also an effort of transparency so no one government office has too much control over the people.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

Unfortunately, you cannot remove all your information from public records. However, you can eliminate any extraneous details that you don't want the public to see. Contact each office and have them remove anything beyond your name and address. That should help you avoid identity theft and fraud.

One thing you can count on is change. As life changes, you must update your property records to reflect any new information. The office holding your records won't know to do this automatically; you must make it happen.