Nebraska is the 37th state nicknamed The Cornhusker State. Many Native American tribes have lived in Nebraska for thousands of years. The state is famous for its treacherous Oregon Trail, which early settlers braved to own land and make a new life for themselves in the new world. The land is made up of a lot of "till", which is a mixture of sand, gravel, and boulders due to the last ice age. Nebraska has a population of 1.968 million residents, and they create a lot of property records.

Property records are paramount to the real estate market, local governments, and homeowners. As public records, they can impact the property and the owner's reputation. Attorneys, title companies, appraisers, surveyors, and others use property records daily in their work or to gather information.

Keep reading to learn all about Nebraska property records, what they are, how they are used, where they are stored, the different types, and how to update them whenever you experience a life change.

Property records in Nebraska are forms, documents, and reports containing detailed information about real property and its owners. Some perform tasks like deeds that transfer ownership of property and building permits that provide licensing to move forward with renovations.

Sources of Property Records in Nebraska

Wouldn't it be nice if all property records were in one place? Unfortunately, they are not; they are scattered among private companies, government offices, the courts, and other entities. For example, if you need to file a deed in Nebraska, you will need to visit the register of deeds office in the county where the property is. Lancaster County, Nebraska, provides more information on this. The county assessor determines the value of all property within its jurisdiction. The county tax collector bills homeowners for annual taxes. The Nebraska Department of Revenue oversees these local tax officials. City and town officials handle issuing building permits. For instance, if you live in Lincoln, Nebraska, you would visit the Building and Safety office to apply for a permit before building.

The register of deeds in each county has general supervision over all property in their jurisdiction. These elected officials receive and preserve for recording a deed, mortgage, or release, recording and indexing of a will, recording, and indexing of a decree, recording proof of publication, or recording any other instrument.

How Property Records are Maintained in Nebraska

Each register of deeds may have its own system of maintaining records. However, one thing is consistent among all the offices. When a new record comes in, the register of deeds stamps it with the date, time, and number to identify it later. Once recorded, it becomes a public record.

Accessing Records at the Register of Deeds in Nebraska

Anyone can access records at the register of deeds since they are public. Most offices have regular business hours when you can visit and request copies. They can charge you a small fee per page. Some counties also have their records online. To help get you started, here are a few county websites:

Register of Deeds Locations in Nebraska

The Nebraska Association of County Officials has developed this map to help you find the right register of deeds in your county.

During your research, you will come across many different types of property records. Some will be familiar, and others may not be. Some perform functions, and others are purely informational. The most common types you will find in Nebraska include:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants often appear on deeds and other property records. Easements are rights of way that give someone other than the owner the right to enter the property without asking permission. Sometimes, towns use private property for roads or power lines, and they can access it whenever needed to maintain them.

Covenants are rules about how the property may be used. If you live in a condo or gated community, you will be familiar with them. An example might be no holiday decorations outside of your home.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are both maps. Surveys show the boundaries of a single property, and plats show the boundaries of all the neighboring properties. These, too, accompany deeds.

The following are the types of surveys in Nebraska:

Historical Property Records

The Nebraska Historical Society has information on researching old property records and historical properties. You can also try the public library and library websites in your area.

Building Permits and Regulations in Nebraska

If you need a building permit to add to your home, demolish a building, or build something new, you must contact the town or city building department to apply for a license before beginning work.

A property history search is a great way to learn all about a property, past and present. Regardless of why you want to find information, you are in luck. You have a variety of ways to search. Try these methods below and see what works for you.

Online Property Record Search

The first place to start is with a basic online property search. Enter the full property address into a Google search bar and review the results. Chances are you will only see information from realty websites and will have to dig deeper.

In-Person Property Record Search

You can visit any of the county registers of deeds locations during regular business hours and ask for records. If they are busy, you may have to wait. They may also charge you a small fee per page.

Using Property Record Indexes

Try one of the many property record indexes online. Be careful; many of them are old repositories that are not updated regularly, and some may even have inaccurate information.

How to Search Property Records by Address

It's easiest to search for property records by address. Type in the full address, including city and state, and zip into a search tool to see what comes up.

How to Search Property Records by Name

Sometimes, you can also search by the property owner's name. However, this method is not always effective, and you might see older information instead of the current owner.

It's a wonderful feeling to own your own home. However, homeownership comes with some serious responsibilities, like paying your mortgage, interest, and taxes on time. You must also maintain the property to keep its value up. All property owners are listed in property records, and that information is made public.

Every piece of real property has a legal property description. This description includes map coordinates and a written description that includes natural landmarks so anyone can find them easily. These property descriptions appear in deeds, mortgages, appraisals, and other documents.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys measure land to find the exact boundaries. Surveyors use specialized equipment to measure boundaries. They are used before new construction, in boundary disputes, and when installing underground utilities.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

Boundary disputes erupt when one party believes another is encroaching upon their land. They can get heated and end up in court, where a judge must decide the outcome. The courts rely on surveyors to provide information to help them decide.

Encumbrances like liens are public property records and will show up online for anyone to see. They can negatively affect a property and its owner's reputation if there are too many, and they lead to a foreclosure. There are two main types of liens: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are those that you choose. You use your home as collateral to secure a loan, and in return, you allow the lender to place a lien on the home. If you default on the loan, they can foreclose and sell it to get their money back.

Involuntary Liens

Involuntary liens are not within your control. They are imposed against your will when you owe a debt. These most often result in foreclosure and the loss of your home.

The Process of Property Liens in Nebraska

Filing a lien in Nebraska demands following the process guided by the statutes. Because there are different types of liens, the processes differ. So, here is a breakdown of the process of mechanics liens in Nebraska:

Property records come into play most often during real estate deals. Many of the parties use them to gather information and go into the deal fully armed with as much detail as possible. Some property records like deeds and appraisals are created during the process.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

Before buying any property, you should do as much research as possible. You can use property records to compare home values, taxes, and insurance and look for any liens, title defects, and foreclosures.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

Before selling a property, you must disclose material defects you know about the house. If you know the roof is leaking, you must tell any potential buyers by law.

Title Searches and Insurance

Your lender will require you to purchase title insurance. It protects them and you from any legal claims on the property after the deal. Your title company will perform a property title search to look for any issues that might spoil the deal.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Nebraska

Homes in foreclosure are sold at auction and listed publicly. It can be embarrassing for owners to have their homes listed as foreclosures. It also devalues the house, and many regular buyers won't want to deal with the hassles.

Pre-Foreclosures in Nebraska

Pre-foreclosure homes are in the foreclosure process, but they have yet to reach the point where they will be sold at auction. Investors look for these homes to buy cheaply and then sell for a profit.

When was the House Built?

You can find out when a house was built by contacting the local register of deeds and asking to see the oldest building permit. The first one would have the date when the house was first built.

Property values are public records and appear in many different property records and public websites. You can browse a realty website and see a property's estimated fair market value (FMV). Property values change rapidly when the economy turns, or inflation goes up. Interest rates and the local real estate market also affect property values. Fair market value is the yardstick used to compare homes to one another and is the standard for real estate sales.

Assessments and Appraisals

Assessments and appraisals are tools used by property professionals to determine the value for a specific purpose. Tax assessors use assessments to determine the value of all the homes within the county. These values do not always match the fair market value.

Appraisers use different methods to determine value by comparing homes with others recently sold in the area. They aim to determine the fair market value (what the house would sell for in the current market). Lenders use appraisals to ensure the value supports the loan.

Property records are public records. Therefore, you cannot have private property sales without some public documentation. Anyone can access public property records anytime, in person or online.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records remain public for two main reasons. First, they preserve the public chain of title for all property transfers. Second, they prohibit any government office from having too much power over the people.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

You cannot remove all your information from public records. However, you can minimize your exposure and risk of identity theft and fraud by limiting what the public sees. Contact the agencies that hold your records and ask that they remove anything beyond your name and address.

It's up to you to keep your property records updated and correct. The office that holds them will not know to update them automatically if something in your life changes. You must contact them to make the change yourself.