Let residents and staff search public property sales and ownership records

How the module works

This module lets users search for a property by address, parcel identifier, or owner name to view associated sales history, ownership records, and valuation information. Search results are presented in a consistent format, making it straightforward to compare records across multiple properties.

Staff can maintain and update the underlying property records as new sales or valuation data becomes available, keeping the public-facing search results current. Configurable fields allow a municipality to determine which categories of property information are displayed and how detailed each record is.

Because the module is a self-service search tool, most lookups do not require any direct interaction with municipal staff, though staff retain the ability to manage and correct the underlying records as needed.

• Searchable lookup by address, parcel identifier, or owner name
• Access to sales history, ownership details, and valuation data
• Configurable record fields and display formatting
• Staff tools for maintaining and updating property records

Who uses this module

Residents and prospective property buyers are frequent users of the module, searching for information about a specific property before making a purchasing decision or simply to understand local property trends.

Finance and assessor's office staff use the module as part of maintaining accurate valuation and ownership records, and may reference it when responding to inquiries about a property's recorded sales history.

Real estate professionals, title researchers, and other members of the public also rely on this type of lookup tool when a municipality makes it available, reducing the volume of manual records requests staff would otherwise need to fulfill.

Resident experience versus staff experience

For residents and members of the public, the module provides direct, self-service access to property information that would otherwise require a visit to a municipal office or a formal records request. Search results can be reviewed at any time without waiting on staff availability.

For staff, the module reduces the volume of routine inquiries about property sales and ownership by making that information available directly to the public. Staff time can then be focused on maintaining accurate records and handling more complex requests that fall outside the scope of a standard lookup.

Because both the public search interface and the staff record management tools draw from the same underlying data, updates made by staff are reflected in what residents see, keeping the two experiences aligned.

Data accuracy and recordkeeping

Maintaining accurate property sales and valuation data is central to the usefulness of this module. Staff can update records as new sales are recorded or as valuations change, and the module keeps a record of when property information was last updated.

This kind of recordkeeping helps municipalities maintain consistency between what is shown to the public and the official records maintained by the assessor's office or equivalent department.

Why municipalities choose GovGrids for property sales lookup

Many municipalities still handle property record requests manually, requiring residents to call or visit an office to obtain sales history or valuation information. GovGrids replaces that process with a self-service, searchable portal available online.

GovGrids plans start at $1,500 per month on an all-inclusive, population-tiered basis, and every plan includes all fifteen GovGrids modules, so municipalities are not purchasing property records access as a standalone product. There are no long-term contracts, and GovGrids is generally more affordable than the legacy incumbent systems many municipalities currently use for public records access.

Built specifically for US city and municipal governments, GovGrids also offers iOS and Android apps, giving residents and staff the option to search property records from a mobile device as well as a desktop browser.

How It Works

1. Step 1

   Search for a property record

   Users look up a property by address, parcel identifier, or owner name to view its sales history, ownership details, and valuation information.

2. Step 2

   Review consistent, comparable results

   Search results are presented in a consistent format, making it straightforward to compare records across multiple properties.

3. Step 3

   Staff maintain underlying records

   Staff update property records as new sales or valuation data becomes available, keeping the public-facing search results current.

Who It's For

• Resident
• Prospective Buyer
• Assessor
• Finance Director
• Title Researcher

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Modules