Holmes County, FL Property Records

    Based on recent population estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, Holmes County's population stands at over 19,800, making it the twelfth least populous county in Florida. It is also the state's fifth-smallest county. The average value of a Holmes County home is $181,491, down 6.4% over recent years and below Florida's average home value of $370,112.

    Homes listed for sale in the county are typically secured under contract in about 59 days. Overall, Holmes County's real estate market is a buyer's market, with home demand declining in recent years. However, Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) indicates that about 23.2% of households in Holmes County are cost-burdened (spending at least 30% of their income on housing), indicating rising affordability challenges in the area.

    The Holmes County Property Appraiser's Office is responsible for appraising and assessing property for all municipalities within the county. The office maintains a searchable database with detailed parcel information, including property ownership and tax details, building characteristics, sales history, and property record cards.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    In Holmes County, official land records are kept by the Clerk of Court and Comptroller. The clerk officially serves as the county recorder and is responsible for providing records when requested.

    You may obtain land records in person by visiting the clerk's office or contacting the office by phone. Below is the office's contact information, office address, and a direct link to the county's official records search website:

    • Holmes County Clerk of Court and Comptroller: 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay, FL 32425, Official Records Search

    • Phone: (850) 547-1100

    • Coverage: All municipalities

    What Holmes County Property Records Include

    Holmes County property records include official documents detailing property-related information, such as deeds, mortgages, discharges, liens, easements, amendments, covenants, homestead declarations, lis pendens, foreclosure notices, leases, and plans.

    The Holmes County official records search portal offers access to property records dating back to the 1880s. However, you can visit the Clerk of Court's office to view or obtain copies of historical or archived property documents.

    How to Access Holmes County Property Records

    You may access official property records in Holmes County from the Clerk of Court by contacting the office or visiting in person, opening the online records search portal, or other channels, depending on your preference.

    Online Access (Free)

    The Holmes County Clerk of Court provides online access to property records through the Official Records Search portal. People can search for public property documents on the portal using any available criteria. The portal also allows indviduals to use a combination of multiple criteria to narrow their search.

    For a party name search, enter a relevant last and/or first name (at least two characters) to locate matching records. Interested people can also search by entering a legal description in the appropriate query box. The document type and instrument type search criteria allow users to narrow their results by selecting the category of document they want from the drop-down list. In addition, people can specify a recording date range to view only documents recorded within that selected period.

    The portal also offers a “Precise Search” option that allows you to search the database by either instrument number or book/page number to find exact matches for the records you seek.

    Your search results will typically include a list of records matching your search entry, with details such as party name, party type, date, document type, instrument number, book/page, consideration amount, and number of pages. You can also click the “View Image” button to see images of a selected document.

    In Person

    You can obtain copies of property records in Holmes County by visiting the Holmes County Clerk of Court's location during its business hours:

    • Holmes County Clerk of Court and Comptroller: Holmes County Clerk of Court, 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay, FL 32425

    • Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

    The office staff can assist them with property research, and people can view or obtain copies of property documents there. To obtain these records, individuals may need to provide relevant details such as the party or business name, instrument number, or book and page reference.

    You will pay copy fees of $1 per copy, with an extra $2 for certification. Acceptable payment methods for in-person services at the Clerk of Court's office include cash, credit/debit card, money order, and local/business check. Note that you must present a valid ID if you wish to pay the clerk fees with a local check.

    By Phone or Email

    You can contact the Holmes County Clerk of Court's Recording Department by phone to inquire about obtaining copies of property records in the county:

    • Holmes County Clerk of Court (Recording Department): (850) 547-1100

    When you call the number, follow the automated menu prompts and press 2 to reach the Recording Department. The staff can explain the process of obtaining these records and provide you with the requirements/information needed to locate them.

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can submit written requests to obtain property records in Holmes County by mail to the Clerk of Court's office. Your request should include details that can assist the Clerk in locating the sought record, such as name, instrument number, legal description, or book/page.

    Mail the request, applicable fees, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the office at Holmes County Clerk of Court & Comptroller, P.O. Box 397, Bonifay, FL 32425. You will typically pay $1 per page with a $2 certification fee. Lis pendens costs $5 for the first page and $4 per additional page. You can pay the appropriate fees by mail with a money order or business check made payable to Holmes County Clerk of Court.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Holmes County does not currently offer electronic recording (e-recording) of property documents. To record such documents, you must either visit the Clerk of Court's office in person or submit original documents for recording by mail.

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)?

    While property records in Holmes County, such as deeds, mortgages, and liens, are maintained by the Clerk of Court, users may need to consult other county offices to obtain certain property details for their research. For instance, assessments and appraisals are handled by the Property Appraiser of Holmes County. Information maintained by the Property Appraiser that may be important for your research includes ownership details, sales history, building features, parcel maps, and valuation details.

    You may also obtain property tax information at the county level from the Holmes County Tax Collector. Additionally, you can visit the Florida Department of Revenue website to access local and statewide property tax rates and other related data.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    Follow these steps to obtain Holmes County deeds online:

    • Visit the Holmes Clerk of Court and Comptroller Official Records Search portal.

    • Enter relevant details in the search criteria fields, including party name, legal description, document/instrument type, book/page, recording date range, or instrument number. You can also use multiple criteria to narrow your search.

    • Click the “Submit” button to view a list of matching records in the search results. You can select the number of items on the list to view per page.

    • Each row on the search results includes details about the deed, such as party name, party type, consideration, recording date, book/page, and instrument number.

    • Click the “View Image” button under the description column to view the deed images.

    • You can download or print copies of the deed images from the portal at no cost.

    Cities & Towns in Holmes County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The Clerk of the Court and Comptroller's Office serves all Holmes municipalities, including the following cities and towns:

    • Holmes County Municipality: Westville, Ponce De Leon, Noma, Esto, and Bonifay.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    The Property Appraiser's Office handles property assessments across all Holmes County municipalities. People can access such information online through the office's Property Records Search portal. Individuals can search for assessment or parcel information on the portal by owner name, location address, parcel number, ID search, or legal information. Looking up a property on the portal typically provides people with its ownership details, parcel map, land information, building characteristics, sales history, assessed values, and sketches. They can also view the current or previous property record card for more details.

    The Tax Collector's Office provides an online property tax search tool that allows you to search for property tax information by the property owner's name, street address, property (parcel) number, or tax bill number. You can view a Holmes County property tax bill and payment history through the portal.

    You can visit the property tax portal available on the Florida Department of Revenue website for information on property tax rates and related financial data across the state.

    Holmes County County-Specific Nuances

    Holmes County, FL, has several important features that you should note for your property research:

    • Official property records affecting titles in Holmes are maintained at the county level by the Clerk of the Court's Office. The Clerk serves as the county recorder and may provide such records to the public.

    • The county's Tax Collector is responsible for managing property tax data, while the Property Appraiser's Office handles property assessments throughout the county.

    • The Clerk's online property search portal provides an index of records dating back to the 1880s. You can search and download digitized historical property records on the portal free of charge.

    Typical Contents of a Holmes County Property Record

    Holmes County property records are official documents that provide information about real and personal property located within the county, including legal ownership, transfers, and encumbrances affecting the property. The following details are typically available in these records:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer)

      • Grantor and grantee names and signatures

      • Witnesses names and addresses

      • Legal description of the property

      • Consideration sum

      • Recording information

      • Preparation note

      • Notarization

    • Mortgages and Discharges (evidence of debt)

      • Borrower and lender names

      • Principal amount and repayment terms

      • Recording details

      • Remedies

      • Satisfaction or release certificate details

    • Plans (visual maps)

      • Survey or plan number

      • Subdivision references

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • Zoning information and permits

      • Sketches

      • Aerial images

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Easements

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Leases

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Rights of way or shared access agreements

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    In Holmes County, you can record changes to property titles, including new conveyances, deeds, mortgages, and other related instruments, with the Clerk of Court. You must prepare the required documents that reflect the changes to the property titles and submit them to the clerk's office for recording. The new instruments will also include the signature of the relevant parties and notarization.

    Documents can be recorded by mail or in person at the Clerk's office on Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You must submit the original document, along with the required recording fees of $10 for the first page and $8.50 per additional page. Other costs also apply, such as documentary stamp tax and intangible tax (for mortgages).

    Submissions made by mail should include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. You can visit the Holmes County Clerk of Court's website for additional information on the county's official recording guidelines, recording fee schedule, and operating hours.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    You can follow this checklist to conduct property research in Holmes County, FL:

    • Visit/contact the Clerk of Court's Office to make inquiries: Property records can be researched by visiting the Clerk of Court's office in person or by contacting the Clerk by mail or over the phone to request the sought documents.

    • Search and note reference numbers: Note the unique identifiers of the desired property, such as instrument numbers and book and page references. You can use the reference numbers to search for the records.

    • Search for records on the county's official search portal: The Clerk of Court offers an online portal to search and view official records like property documents. You can look up such information by different criteria, including names, instrument number, recording date, legal description, and book/page.

    • Trace the chain of title: To trace the chain of title for a Holmes County property, search the property on the Property Appraiser's online portal to review its sales history. To access the deed for a prior sale, click the book/page reference to open the document in the Clerk's official records search portal.

    • Review plans and encumbrances: Check for plans and other recorded encumbrances to identify liens, covenants, or restrictions that could restrict how the property can be used or accessed.

    • Verify parcel data with the Property Appraiser's Office: You can verify property information by contacting the county's Property Appraiser's office or searching the property on the office's search portal. Information typically accessible on the portal includes ownership details, assessed values, building characteristics, sales history, and area sales reports.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Holmes County

    Holmes County, FL, has five incorporated municipalities: one city and four towns*.

    • City: Bonifay

    • Towns: Westville, Ponce De Leon, Noma, and Esto.

    *Holmes County also has several unincorporated communities, such as Gritney, Bethlehem, and Cerrogordo.

    (Wikipedia)

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals

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