Yes. Deeds are public record in New York, and anyone can look them up. Once a deed is recorded, it becomes part of the official public record, and the city and county make those records searchable online. That openness is by design: it protects buyers, deters fraud, and lets anyone confirm who owns a property. Here is what is public, how to look it up, and what it means for your privacy.
1 Why deeds are public
Recording exists so ownership is transparent and provable. A public record lets a buyer confirm the seller really owns the property, lets a lender see existing mortgages, and creates a clear chain of title. It also deters fraud, because a forged or hidden transfer stands out against an open record. Openness is the whole point of the recording system.
2 What is visible
A recorded deed and the surrounding documents typically show:
- The current owner and how title is held.
- The chain of prior transfers and their dates.
- The consideration (what was paid), or a nominal amount if that was used.
- Recorded mortgages, liens, and satisfactions attached to the property.
3 How to look one up
In New York City, ACRIS lets anyone search recorded property documents for four boroughs at no cost. You can search by address, or by borough, block, and lot. Staten Island uses the Richmond County Clerk. Keep in mind a free lookup shows you individual documents, not a full analysis, which is where a professional title search adds value.
4 Privacy and the $10 trick
Since deeds are public, people who want to keep a sale price private sometimes list a nominal amount, like “$10 and other good and valuable consideration,” instead of the real number. This is a long-standing, legal practice for privacy, but it does not hide the transfer itself or avoid transfer taxes, which are based on the actual value. Recording still makes the transfer visible; only the dollar figure is obscured.
5 Recording and searches
Whether you need a deed recorded so it becomes part of the public record, or a title search of what is already there, we handle both. See our NYC document recording and title search service, or call 347-762-0262.
Need a deed recorded or a title checked?
We record deeds through ACRIS and run property title searches, done for you across NYC.
Yes. Once recorded, a deed is public. In NYC you can search them for free on ACRIS for four boroughs, and through the Richmond County Clerk for Staten Island.
Can anyone see who owns my house?
Yes. Ownership and the transfer history are public. Anyone can look up the recorded owner of a property.
Can I keep the sale price private?
People sometimes record a nominal amount like $10 for privacy, but the transfer is still public and transfer taxes are based on the real value.
Related: property title search in NYC and why people put $10 on a deed.
See also: how to get a copy of your deed in NYC, step by step.
See also: do you get your deed after paying off your mortgage.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Public-record access and rules can change. Confirm current procedures or consult a professional.