How to Search for Nashville Property Records

Property records contain a lot of helpful information like ownership details, deeds, mortgages, liens, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and more. These property records are public; you can search for them online and in person. You don't even need a reason. Nashville property records are available in a variety of places. Start with the government offices listed below.

Davidson County Register of Deeds

The Davidson County Register of Deeds is the place where residents file deeds after real estate transfers. They also have a repository of liens, foreclosures, mortgages, and other property records. You can search for records on their website, but you can also request document copies by mail or in person at their office located at Public Square Garage, 300 Deaderick St., Register of Deeds, Nashville, TN 37201.

Nashville Property Assessor

The Nashville Property Assessor is the entity responsible for valuing property. They also provide public records on taxes, assessments, and liens. You can search for files using their website by property address or owner's name. You can also use the "Advanced Search" feature to search using other criteria. You may have to pay a small fee for copies.

Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury

Another place to look to look for property records is the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. They have a helpful search tool open to the public where you can search by county, property address, owner's name, or parcel ID.

Nashville property taxes fund a good portion of the city's expenses and pay for things like education, healthcare services, transportation, bridges and roads, parks, fire, police, and EMTs, along with other city services. Nashville has some of the lowest property taxes in the country. By controlling costs, the city has been able to keep property taxes affordable. Property values also contribute to the low tax rate. The Real Property Tax Department is the government office that collects property taxes. You can pay by mail, online using a credit card, e-check, or in person.

Assessments

The Davidson County Tax Assessor is the government office responsible for determining property values. Property assessments appraise the home at "market value" using some of the same methods as appraisers do. These reassessments occur every four years. The office sends property owners a notice of the new value. If the owner disagrees with it, they can appeal to the Assessor's Office. If you do not get satisfaction from your appeal, you can take it to the Metropolitan Board of Equalization (MBOE).

Appraisals

Appraisers use various appraisal methods to determine a property's fair market value. Typically, they compare similar homes in the local area that sold recently. Lenders often use appraisals to ensure the property's value supports the loan. Probate courts and estate professionals also use appraisals to value property for sale or estate planning.

Tax Rates

Nashville, Tennessee, has an average effective property tax rate of 0.95%, which is slightly lower than the national average of 0.99%. That rate is somewhat higher than Tennessee's average effective rate of 0.64%. An average homeowner pays around $3,025 for Nashville property taxes. Tennessee property taxes are some of the lowest in the country. They differ by county. For example:

• Anderson County 0.68%
• Campbell County 0.44%
• Davidson County 0.63%
• Fayette County 0.35%
• Hancock County 0.48%
• Lake County 0.63%
• Montgomery County 0.70%
• Smith County 0.49%
• Wayne County 0.50%
• Wilson County 0.47%

Exemptions

Tax rates are rising all over the country. Despite the low tax rate in Nashville, some property owners need help paying their annual property taxes. The city of Nashville offers qualified individuals a break on their taxes through exemptions. Some of the exemptions offered by Davidson County are as follows:

• Seniors - Homeowners who are 65 or older.
• Disabled Adult - Income cannot exceed $36,370.
• Disabled Veteran - Permanently and totally disabled before 12/31/2024.
• Widow(er) of Disabled Veteran - Rated permanently and totally disabled before 12/31/2024 by Veterans Administration.

You can apply for these exemptions by contacting the Davidson County Assessor's Office.

Before building new construction, demolishing a building, or renovating a structure, you must obtain a building permit. You can do this in Nashville through the Davidson County Development Services. This office is located at 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, Nashville, TN 37210. You can also apply for a permit online using their helpful e-permits website. Some of the available permits to choose from include:

• Residential New Construction
• Place or Replace a Mobile Home
• Move a Structure
• New Structure (garage, shed, etc.)
• Convert an Accessory Area
• Siding, Roof, Shingles
• Demolish a Building
• Commercial New Construction
• Commercial Renovation
• Commercial Demolition

The city also offers permits for specialty work like plumbing, electrical, and mechanical. Part of the building permit process requires that you allow the building inspector to review the work before, during, and after construction to ensure it complies with local building and safety codes.

The city of Nashville, Tennessee, is home to country music and has a population of 715,884. The city has a total of 316,363 housing units. Forty-nine percent of those are owner-occupied. Another 40% are renter-occupied. There are limited rental units in Nashville, and the rental market has low vacancies. The city created 10,955 new rental units in 2023 to solve the problem. Another 27,939 units are under construction. The many types of housing units in Nashville include single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, row houses, townhouses, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The single-family homes are both detached and semi-detached. The multi-family dwellings range from RM2-RM15. The ADUs include both attached and detached.

The median price of a home in Nashville ranges from $400,000 to $500,000. The price of homes varies based on neighborhood. For example:

• Capitol Hill Area (37243) $616,612
• Buena Vista (37218) $606,847
• Salemtown (37208) $748,388
• East Nashville (37206) $644,000
• Fisk - Meharry (37206) $427,306
• Elizabeth Park (37208) $365,128
• Jones-Buena Vista (37013) $481,355

Home prices have increased in Nashville over the past few years and houses stay on the market for only a few days.