How to Search for Philadelphia Property Records

Philadelphia is a huge city with many homeowners, which means thousands of public property records. Anyone can find and access these property records to learn about the owner, taxes, value, sales history, liens, and other vital details. You have a few different options available when searching for Philadelphia property records. They are as follows:

City of Philadelphia App

As a progressive city, Philadelphia has created a property search app that allows users to select an address from the map and view details about it. However, due to privacy concerns, the app has removed owner information.

Department of Records in City Hall

Deeds and other property records are filed with the Department of Records in City Hall, located at Room 111, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd. The city also has a well-structured website where you can search for deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property-related documents.

City Archives

You can also search the City Archives for property records of older houses and buildings. You can visit or call for more information.

Department of Revenue

The Philadelphia Department of Revenue is the office that mails out Philadelphia tax bills and collects payments. You can contact them for a list of tax liens and assessments.

Philadelphia Courts

Philadelphia's court system is another excellent resource for finding property records. Judgment liens, foreclosures, and bankruptcies are all filed with the courts. You may also see property ownership dispute cases and other property-related items like divorces.

The Philadelphia Tax Center is the government office in charge of local property taxes. You can check their website to find and print your tax bill and make payments online. Philadelphia property taxes pay for a wide variety of services like schools, police, fire, and other municipal services. Each year, city officials determine the budget, and then they assess all real property and charge homeowners accordingly to pay for the services in the budget.

Assessments

The Office of Property Assessment (OPA) is the government office that assesses all property within the city each year and sets tax rates. The schedule is that they assess year 1 and bill for that year, year 2. Homeowners receive a "Notice of Proposed Valuation" well before the billing. If you want to contest the new value, you can call them at (215) 686-4334.

Appraisals

Tax officials may also use certified appraisers who compare similar recently sold homes to determine their value. They do this when the situation is more complicated, such as with commercial buildings or new construction. Others use appraisals to value real property for probate, estate planning, and lending money.

Tax Rates

The median tax rate in Philadelphia is 1.3998% of every $100 of the assessed value. It has remained the same since 2016 and is expected to remain the same going forward. Philly taxes are determined by two distinct taxes: real property and school taxes. They are combined each tax year on a single tax bill. To learn more about tax rates in Philadelphia, visit the City of Philadelphia website.

Exemptions

Tax exemptions are designed to reduce a homeowners' tax bill. Every local area offers different options for qualifying individuals. Some of the exemptions available in Philadelphia include:

• Homestead Exemption: The home's value is reduced by $100,000, saving homeowners an average of $1,399 in taxes yearly.
• Property Tax Abatement - Exempts all or part of a renovation.
• Non-Profit Real Estate Exemption - Nonprofits could be exempt from paying taxes.
• Catastrophic Loss Exemption - You may get a tax break after a 50% catastrophic loss.
• Longtime Owner Occupants Exemption (LOOP) - If your assessment increases by 50% in a year, you can lock in with a lower assessment/lower tax.
• Disabled Veterans Tax Exemption - For 100% permanently disabled vets.

Interested parties must apply for the exemption and wait for approval from the governing body.

In the City of Philadelphia, you must get a building permit before starting a new construction project, enlarging an existing structure, renovating a home, partially or fully demolishing a structure, changing the classification of a structure, or increasing the occupancy load of a space. You can apply for a building permit with the City of Philadelphia. They have a website committed to informing residents of everything they need to know about building permits. They even have an EZ permit for small jobs. Some of the available permits include:

• EZ Permit
• Foundation-Only Permit
• Complete Demolition Permit
• Explosives Permit
• Mechanical Permit
• Electrical Permit
• Plumbing Permit
• Fire Suppression Systems Permit
• Excavation Site Permit
• Retaining Wall Permit
• Fence Permit
• Sidewalk/Shelter Platform Permit
• Solar Panels Permit

When applying for a permit, you may need to provide documentation such as material lists, contractor licenses, and blueprints. You must also pay the permit fee when applying. The building inspector will come out and inspect the project throughout and at the end to ensure that all the work complies with local safety and building codes.

The city of Philadelphia has a population of 1.551 million people. The city also has 760,282 housing units. Of that total, 52.3% are owner-occupied, with the median value of those units being $232,400. Philadelphia is an old city with several different types of housing units. These include row houses, townhouses, twin homes, single-family homes, and public housing (apartments). The city also provides supportive housing that offers subsidized and affordable homes for low-income families, disabled people, or seniors. The average price of a single-family home in Philadelphia is $275,000. Larger homes cost more. Where you live affects the price, for example:

• Fishtown (19125) $417,000
• Bustleton (19115) $367,000
• Somerton (85350) $400,000
• Richmond (19134) $217,000
• Newbold (19145) $349,000
• Overbrook Hills (19151) $210,000
• Grays Ferry (19103) $257,500
• Mid City East (16935) $550,000
• Point Breeze (15206) $347,500
• West Passyunk (19145) $266,500

Philadelphia's real estate inventory is low, but so are vacancy rates. Many buyers look for homes with access to parks or gardens, backyards, and extra space to work from home.