How do I find out who owns the mortgage or note?

[Audrey C.]

Hello,

I need to know how I can go on the county records to find out if a) the property is foreclosed and b) who owns the note or mortgage currently?  Is there a different route to take for cases like these, or do I just do a search for the property via the physical address?

I know the owner's or LLC name comes up during a property search but what about if the property is foreclosed upon? Will I be able to go about finding info using the same route?

Please help and thank you in advance.  (These are Florida addresses)

[Wayne Brooks]

In Florida, all counties are pretty much set up the same.  

County Property Appraiser office is where you search for ownership.

County Clerk of Court, Official Records search is where you search for recorded documents: deeds, mortgages, assignments, LP's (Lis Pendins), judgments, and such.  Here you search by property owner name, or former property name, and you'll find these documents.  Most show a brief legal description in the results list, so you don't have to open each document.  Mortgage assignments don't always show up; if it was with MERS a later note sale/assignment will never show up.  Many times notes are sold without a mtg assignment also.