Find Property Records in Hempstead

Hempstead property records are managed through a combination of town and county offices serving Long Island's most populated town. The Town of Hempstead Assessor's Office handles property valuations and assessment rolls, while the Nassau County Clerk records deeds, mortgages, and liens for all properties within the town's borders. With a population of roughly 800,000 residents, the Town of Hempstead contains dozens of incorporated villages and hamlets, all relying on the same county-level recording system. Searching Hempstead property records can be done online through the Nassau County land records portal or in person at the county offices in Mineola.

Nassau County Handles Hempstead Property Records

All property recording for Hempstead goes through Nassau County. The Nassau County Clerk's Office at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501 is where deeds, mortgages, and liens get filed. You can call them at (516) 493-4111. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk's Office records all real estate instruments for properties in the Town of Hempstead and throughout Nassau County.

Nassau County is one of the most densely populated counties in the United States. Historical records dating to 1899 are maintained by the Clerk's Office. Hempstead was part of Queens County until 1899 when Nassau County was formed. Property records from before that date may be found in Queens County archives. For current Hempstead property documents, the Nassau County system is your primary source. Public access computers are set up in the office for searching land records at no charge.

How to Search Hempstead Property Records

The Nassau County Land Records Online portal gives free access to recorded documents. You can search by name, document type, or date. Document images are viewable on screen. The system runs around the clock. Records go back to the 1980s with document images available for most filings. Grantor and grantee indexes are searchable, letting you trace property ownership chains for Hempstead properties.

For assessment data, the Nassau County Department of Assessment at 240 Old Country Road maintains the assessment roll for all properties in the county. The tentative assessment roll comes out on January 2nd each year. The final roll is published on June 1st. You can look up property details, photos, exemptions, and comparable sales data through the county's online assessment search tools. The Assessment Review system lets you check assessment history and file grievances online.

The Town of Hempstead Assessor's Office determines property values for all parcels within the town. The Assessor publishes the tentative assessment roll each year and handles exemption applications. Property owners can file for STAR, veterans, senior citizen, and disability exemptions through this office. The Board of Assessment Review meets to hear complaints about assessments. Property inventory data and sales monitoring records are also available through the Assessor.

Recording Fees for Hempstead Properties

Recording a deed for a Hempstead property costs $45 base plus $5 per page. The TP-584 form has a $5 filing fee. The RP-5217 form costs $125 for residential or farm property and $250 for commercial or other types. Transfer tax is $4 per $1,000 of consideration. Residential deeds carry an extra $10 fee. eRecording is available through authorized vendors for electronic submission.

Mortgage recording tax must be paid when filing a mortgage. The state rate is $0.50 per $100 of debt. Nassau County falls within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, so additional MCTD mortgage recording tax applies. Form MT-15 must accompany the recorded mortgage. Copy fees at the Nassau County Clerk are $1 per page for regular copies and $5 for certified copies. All instruments must bear original signatures and proper notary acknowledgments as required by Real Property Law Section 294.

Legal Framework for Hempstead Property Records

Hempstead property records fall under New York's Real Property Tax Law and Real Property Law. Article 9 of the Real Property Law governs recording. Section 291 requires the County Clerk to keep alphabetical indexes of grantors and grantees. Section 292 makes unrecorded conveyances void against later good faith buyers who file first. Section 293 provides constructive notice when an instrument is recorded. These rules protect property rights for Hempstead homeowners and buyers.

The Freedom of Information Law ensures public access to Hempstead property records held by government offices. Written requests must get a response within five business days. Copy fees under FOIL top out at 25 cents per page. Assessment records, tax maps, and recorded documents are all subject to FOIL. Property tax exemptions in Hempstead are governed by Article 4 of the Real Property Tax Law, covering veterans, seniors, persons with disabilities, and STAR benefits.

The STAR program saves Hempstead homeowners on school property taxes. Basic STAR covers primary residences. Enhanced STAR helps seniors 65 and older with income under the statutory cap. New homeowners should register as soon as the home becomes their primary residence. The Office of Real Property Tax Services provides additional property tax resources. The NYS GIS Clearinghouse offers parcel boundary data that includes Hempstead properties.

Court Records and Additional Resources

The NYS Unified Court System handles property-related cases like foreclosures and quiet title actions for Hempstead. Nassau County falls in the 10th Judicial District. Supreme Court foreclosure proceedings can be tracked through eCourts, which provides free case status and history information. The real estate transfer tax and mortgage recording tax pages from the Department of Taxation and Finance detail current tax rates and filing requirements for Hempstead property transactions.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

Nassau County Property Records

For the full county-level view of property records covering Hempstead, visit the Nassau County property records page.