On each listing details page on Redfin, we show a Public Facts section that contains information about that property, such as bedroom count, bathroom count, the home's square footage, and other factual information that is available from public records. If these Public Facts seem outdated, you can update them by selecting the Edit Facts option. Redfin receives this information from a third party who gets it directly from the local county assessor and recorder offices. We display this information to give you a complete set of facts about a property and to supplement MLS-provided details on a home that can occasionally be incomplete or unclear.
Why Doesn't Public Record Information Always Match MLS-Provided Information?
There are a number of reasons why the facts entered by the listing agent may not match those from public records. The MLS listing is typically the most up-to-date and reliable source of information about a home for sale. Below are several common reasons why the two sources may not agree:
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Recent Additions & Remodels. When a house has been recently remodeled or updated, the MLS listing typically reflects the most current number of beds, baths, and square footage. The assessor's records are typically much slower to update. Additionally, the MLS "year built" may sometimes be the year of a major remodel whereas public records typically show the year the original structure was built.
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Finished vs. Unfinished Square Footage. It may not always be clear whether the square footage of an MLS listing includes any partially finished or unfinished areas of the house such as a basement or a garage. Public records often split out square feet into finished/unfinished which can make it clearer. When the MLS and public square footage do not agree, the MLS typically is more reliable.
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Addresses. On rare occasions, we may accidentally match a listing with the wrong property's public record. This can happen if a parcel was divided or there are two very similar addresses in a certain jurisdiction. Contact us with the home's address or MLS number if you suspect this may have happened.
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Historical Data. Redfin shows sold listings from the MLS for the past several years. The home facts for the MLS listing describe the house at the time it was sold. This is valuable information when using sold data to determine the fair market value of a property you are interested in. The current public facts for these older listings may reflect work done on the home after the sale.
It is a good idea to contact your agent if you have questions or need some clarification about MLS-provided facts. If you are interested in a home, there is no substitute for seeing it in person to see its condition, size, and features first hand.
Sold Information from Public Records
In addition to beds, baths, square footage, etc. Redfin also displays publicly recorded sale records, if available. If the sold data we are currently showing for your home is incorrect and you have verified that your county assessor's office is showing it correctly, you can let us know by clicking the 'Submit a Request' button below and attaching a copy of the homes correct data. Once received we'll look into getting this corrected as quickly as possible!
Off-Market Information from Canada
Redfin also displays information about off-market ( Sold) Canadian properties on Redfin.ca. The Canadian Supreme Court ruled that this data can be displayed on public websites, which is why real estate websites are now displaying this information. All information provided about an off-market property is collected exclusively from publicly available data sources. According to the information available to Redfin, the properties we’ve identified as “Off Market” are not for sale. Please note, if a Canadian property is privately listed for sale by the owner or is listed for sale in a manner other than through the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), then Redfin.ca will not have a way to identify that the property is for sale. More information on For Sale By Owner property listings can be found here.