Alamance County, NC Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Nestled between the innovation hub of the Research Triangle and the cultural richness of the Piedmont, Alamance County offers a blend of small-town charm and big-city access. The housing market here is vibrant year-round, with hundreds of homes changing hands every month. Single-family homes dominate Alamance County’s housing market, making up nearly 69% of all housing units. Multi-family properties account for about 19%, while mobile homes represent roughly 12%. If you seek information about any property in Alamance County, you may find such property records with the local Register of Deeds and local Tax Department. Both offices are located in Graham and maintain records dating back to 1849.

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How to Look Up Alamance County Property Records

Property researchers and homeowners can access Alamance County property records through several online portals.

Who Keeps Alamance County Property Records

Alamance County property records are maintained by county offices, and access to these records is governed by the state’s Public Records Act. Three separate offices manage Alamance County property records:

• The Alamance County Register of Deeds maintains official land records such as deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, liens, and restrictive covenants.

• The Alamance County Tax Department keeps records pertaining to property appraisals, tax payments, and delinquency lists.

• The Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court maintains property records pertaining to the foreclosure process.

How to Search Alamance County Property Records Online

In Alamance County, property records are open to the public. Anyone can inspect and copy these records for free. When researching a property record in the county, understand that you must visit multiple databases, as the county's property records are not stored in a single database. To conduct a thorough property search in the county, follow the steps below:

1. Start your search with the county Tax Department's property search portal. This portal allows you to view property ownership records, assessed value, and location. You can search records by owner's name, address, or parcel ID.

2. Next, use the county's Register of Deeds online records portal to pull up deeds linked to the property owner's name and address.

3. Trace the chain of titles beginning with the most recent deed. If the names do not correspond, then you've found a gap that needs further research, potentially by a tax professional.

4. Look through the index for liens, deeds of trust, and restrictive covenants that may apply. The excise tax stamp on a deed provides a rough measure of the property’s last transaction amount.

5. Then, use the Alamance County tax portal to confirm the property's tax status. You can search records by owner's name, parcel ID, and tax year.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

The Register of Deeds Office is responsible for the indexing and recording of all real estate documents in the county. These documents include deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, assumed names, and other miscellaneous documents related to real property.

Tax Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Assessor's Division is responsible for measuring, listing, and assessing real property in Alamance County. The office also determines fair tax values for nearly 80,000 parcels in Alamance County. See the table below for more information about the office.

Tax Collector: Tax Bills and Payments

The Collections Division is responsible for collecting property taxes every year. In Alamance County, real estate and property taxes are due on September 1. However, homeowners are encouraged to pay their taxes before January 5th. Taxes paid after January 5th are delinquent and subject to interest.

Property Tax in Alamance County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

In Alamance County, property tax is determined using the property's assessed value per $100 of the value. To get the final amount, the county divides a property's assessed value by 100 and multiplies the figure by the local tax rate set by the county officials.

Homestead and relief programs

There are three statutory relief programs available in North Carolina, but homeowners can choose only one. Applications are submitted to the county on Form AV-9 by June 1.

Appealing your value

If you are not satisfied with your property's valuation, you can file an appeal with the county's Board of Equalization and Review. If the Board’s decision is not satisfactory, a further appeal can be made to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Alamance County’s GIS mapping system allows you to locate and analyze individual parcels without visiting the county office. With this application, you can search parcel IDs, boundaries, and ownership records. For data that extends beyond county borders, use the NC OneMap.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

North Carolina allows both power-of-sale and property-tax foreclosures. Researchers often see these two processes when reviewing property records.

Power-of-sale foreclosure

A power-of-sale foreclosure allows a lender to foreclose on a property without filing a lawsuit, provided the deed of trust contains the power-of-sale clause.

Property-tax foreclosure

If a homeowner fails to pay property tax, Alamance County may foreclose using either the mortgage-style process under NCGS 105-374 or the in rem process under NCGS 105‑375. Both methods are handled by attorneys, with auctions held at the county courthouse. After the auction, there is a 10‑day upset‑bid period, which allows anyone to submit a higher bid. This means that the first winning bid is not final.

Costs to Access Property Records

You can access Alamance County property records online for free. You will be required to pay for retrieving a copy or recording a new document.

Recording fees are set by NCGS 161-10, and the excise tax is set by NCGS 105-228.30. Confirm the current schedule with the Register of Deeds before filing.

How to Record a Document

NCGS Chapter 47 outlines the rules governing the recording of any document that transfers an interest in real property. The process generally includes the four steps:

1. Confirm the document meets North Carolina formatting rules: include original signatures, a notary acknowledgment, legible margins, and the required first-page reference to the grantee's address.

2. Calculate recording fees. Recording costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 for each additional page. Deeds also require payment of the excise tax, which is $1 per $500 of the purchase price.

3. Submit documents to the Register of Deeds Office. You can file the document in person, by mail, or through an approved e‑recording vendor. Checks should be made payable to the Alamance County Register of Deeds.

4. Once the document is recorded, the original is returned to the filer, and a digital image is added to the online index.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Alamance County Property Records Checklist

Match each row to your task to find the fastest path through the system.

Key Contacts and Official Portals