Did you know that 33.7 million acres of Oklahoma are farmlands? It's not surprising that more water in the state is used for irrigation than any other purpose. Oklahoma is the 20th largest state with more than 11,611 miles of shoreline. Made up of mountains, beaches, lakes, reservoirs, and farmlands, Oklahoma is a lovely place to work and live and has something for everyone. More than four million people call Oklahoma home, and that means millions of property records to go with those homes and owners.

Oklahoma property records are the glue that cements owners with real property. Many industries use them every day to collect information or create new ones. Realtors, attorneys, title companies, investors, banks, appraisers, and inspectors use them in the normal course of business. These records impact homeowners, local government, and the state.

To learn more about Oklahoma property records, keep reading, where you will learn what they are, how they work, the various types, and where to find and change them whenever life events occur.

Property records in Oklahoma are official documents and forms that contain information about a piece of real property and its owners. These records may be land records, appraisals, building permits, and other items. Some of them perform functions like deeds that transfer ownership of property. Others exist to provide information like tax assessments that help auditors set tax rates.

Sources of Property Records in Oklahoma

It would make life easier if all property records were stored in one location, but that is not how the state of Oklahoma does it. Property records can be found with private companies, government agencies, the courts, and even individuals. For example, if you needed to file a deed in Oklahoma, you would visit the local county clerk's office in the county where the property is located. If you want to file a deed in Cleveland County, you can visit their website to get started. The county assessors and treasurers handle property taxes. All of them are overseen by the state Tax Commission. Each Oklahoma town or county provides a way for contractors and homeowners to obtain a building permit. In Oklahoma City, you can apply by phone. Check with your local area to find specifics about obtaining one in your town.

The county clerk's office plays a vital role in each county. It is responsible for maintaining accurate and updated legal documents such as deeds, mortgages, plats, maps, oil, gas, mineral leases, liens, and military discharge papers. The office also performs other county functions as needed.

How Property Records are Maintained in Oklahoma

Each county maintains its own property records for properties within its boundaries. They can organize and maintain records according to their own system. Each new document is stamped with the date, time, and unique identifiers. For example, Canadian County, Oklahoma, indexes land records from 1987 until 2000 by the owner's name only. After 2000, they index them by name and legal property description to make finding records easier.

Accessing Records at the County Clerk's Office in Oklahoma

Many local counties have websites allowing the public to search for and access records online. You could also visit the office in person during regular business hours to access records. Technology has made it easier to quickly access public property records from the comfort of your home. To start you off, here are a few Oklahoma county clerk's office websites:

County Clerk's Office Locations in Oklahoma

The key to finding what you need in property records is accessing them from the correct county. Use this list of counties in Oklahoma to find what you need and the local county clerk's office.

There are various types of property records, each containing different information, and some even serve an important purpose. When performing a property history search, you may find many of these; the most common types are listed below.

Property taxes in Oklahoma are assessed annually to determine their fair market values. However, these assessments are not done in person. The state only requires assessors to visit the property physically once every four years. The assessment process involves the following key steps:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants are other types of property records you might encounter when looking. Easements are rights of way that give access to the property to someone other than the owner. An example would be a power company with power lines installed on private property. The company can enter to maintain its power lines at will.

Covenants, however, are rules about how the land can be used. You see these often in condo developments and gated communities, but you might also see them on private property. For instance, if a person's land abutted a wildlife preserve, they might be prohibited from building near it or disturbing the wildlife.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are both types of maps. The difference is that plats have the boundaries of all neighboring properties, while surveys show only the boundaries of a single property. Surveys may also show the property's measurements and coordinates.

However, a standard survey document contains the following information:

Historical Property Records

Property records accumulate over time and eventually become unmanageable. Many states, like Oklahoma, offload some of the historical records into historical archives. The Oklahoma Historical Society files and manages all historical land and property records.

Building Permits and Regulations in Oklahoma

Before renovating, building new construction, or demolishing buildings in Oklahoma, you must apply for and obtain a building permit. You must contact the city or county building inspector's office to apply. Some cities allow you to apply by phone or online. You must provide sufficient paperwork about the plans and other details before they will approve it.

A property history search can yield many interesting results. The good news is that our modern technical world affords us many different options for searching for property records.

Online Property Record Search

The first step is to try a broad online search. Type the property address into a search bar using your favorite search engine and review the results. You might get lucky and find just what you need, but typically, you will have to take things further to find what you need.

In-Person Property Record Search

All government offices holding property records have a duty to make them available to the public. Visit during regular business hours. You may have to wait while they locate the files, and you may have to pay a small fee.

Using Property Record Indexes

You could try the many property indexes online. However, remember that these repositories are sourced from many places, and the data could be outdated or even incorrect.

How to Search Property Records by Address

The most effective way to search is by using the property address. Enter the full property address into a search bar and see what comes up.

How to Search Property Records by Name

You can sometimes search using the property owner's name, but it's a less effective method because you may not know the name of the most current owner.

Oklahoma is a vast and beautiful state. Homeownership in the state is amazing, but it comes with some responsibilities, like paying your mortgage and taxes on time. Plus, you need to maintain it to retain the resale value. Plus, your name will show up in public property records.

Property descriptions and boundaries are other crucial pieces of information that you need. The legal property description includes maps, plats, boundaries, coordinates, and a written description including landmarks and other identifying things to make it easy for anyone to find it.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys are reports that surveyors prepare after using specialized equipment to measure the land and mark off definitive boundaries. They are used before building a new house, when placing utilities, and in boundary disputes.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

A boundary dispute occurs when someone believes another person is encroaching upon their land. It can be true or fantasy. These boundary disputes tend to end up in court, where a judge must decide who owns what. The courts hire professional surveyors to come in and provide expert testimony to help them decide.

Encumbrances like liens can be detrimental to the property and owner's reputations. Voluntary liens are not as bad as involuntary. If you have too many on your property, it could be hard to sell, and the value will drop. There are two main types of liens: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

You get to choose voluntary liens, like a mortgage or home equity loan. They occur when you use your home as collateral for a loan, and the lender puts a lien on the property to protect themselves if you default on the loan.

Involuntary Liens

You do not get to choose involuntary liens; they are imposed against the property when you owe a debt you cannot pay. Most often, these occur due to non-payment of taxes and creditor debts.

The Process of Property Liens in Oklahoma

Placing a lien on a property depends on the lien being executed. The following is a breakdown of how individuals can place a mechanics lien on a property in Oklahoma:

Property records come into play during real estate transactions more than at any other time. The parties involved use property records to gather information before the sale; more records are created during and after new records are filed that replace older ones.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

If you are the buyer, you will want to use property records to learn all you can to make an informed decision. Before buying, check out the value and taxes and look for any liens and foreclosures.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

When selling property in Oklahoma, you must disclose to potential buyers whether the house has ever had lead paint or asbestos. Additionally, you must disclose any material defects, like a leaky roof or crumbling foundation.

Title Searches and Insurance

Title insurance protects the lender and buyer from any legal claims arising after the sale. If you take out a mortgage, your lender will require that you buy title insurance. Your title company will also perform a property title search before closing to look for any title defects.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Oklahoma

When a house is in foreclosure, it appears in public property records. It can put a strain on the property, lower the value, and ruin the owner's financial reputation. Most buyers won't want to deal with the hassles of buying a foreclosure property.

Pre-Foreclosures in Oklahoma

Pre-foreclosure is when the house is in the process of foreclosure but is not yet final (sold at auction). There is a window of opportunity where investors can pick up pre-foreclosure properties cheaply and sell them for a profit.

When was the House Built?

Some people want to know when a house was built before buying it. You can easily find out by examining all the property's building permits, going back to the first one that allowed the house to be built.

Property values tend to change rapidly in different real estate markets. The economy, interest rates, and inflation can also impact values. A property's condition, size, and age affect its value. One of the most important aspects is the location. Professionals use the fair market value (FMV) as the determining factor when comparing homes with other sales in the neighboring area. The FMV is what the house is worth in the current market.

Assessments and Appraisals

Assessments and appraisals are tools used by property experts and professionals. Tax officials use assessments to value the property for tax reasons. The more the value, the higher the taxes. The assessed value does not always equal the fair market value.

Appraisers use various methods to determine a property's value for estate planning and mortgage lending purposes. The appraisal determines the house's fair market value, which is what it is worth on the open market today.

Privacy is what's on everyone's mind these days. However, public property records do contain information about owners. Anyone can access them at any time.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public to maintain a chain of title that is irrefutable. It's also to keep government offices in check and avoid them having too much power over residents.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

Although you cannot remove all your information from property records, you can minimize your exposure. Contact all the government offices and websites that hold your records and ask them to remove anything beyond your name and phone address. You especially don't want your email address or phone number out there.

An important aspect of property records is keeping them updated and correct as life changes. The office that holds them will not know to update them automatically. You must take steps to make it happen.