Getting comps from county recorders office?

[Tony Marcelle]

Is the county recorders office the right place to get comparable sales history of different properties? How do you find comparable sales information on some random address through public records? How do you use public records to locate absentee owner homes, vacant owner homes, and  free and clear homes? That's if public records can be used to find these type of homes? It is expensive to pay someone to find this type of property information.

[Jon Holdman]

You really want both public records and MLS data. Check with your county about recording timelines. Some are pretty speedy these days. But public records don't usually show concessions or repairs that are relevant when you're trying to determine a value. Public records do show all transactions where the MLS will only show transactions done via the MLS.