Howard County, IA Property Records
Property records in Howard, Iowa, document important details about real estate within Howard County, including ownership information, parcel identification, legal descriptions, assessed values, property tax data, sales history, and land-use details. These records are useful for homeowners, buyers, real estate professionals, attorneys, researchers, and anyone needing to verify ownership, review property boundaries, estimate tax obligations, or understand a property’s assessment history.
Official Howard property records are maintained by county offices such as the Assessor, Recorder, Treasurer, and Auditor, depending on the type of record needed. Users can begin with the county’s official Assessor resources for assessment and parcel information through the Howard property records page, while recorded deeds and related land documents may be available through the Howard County Recorder’s Office.
Howard County, IA Property Records & Statistics
Howard County has a median rent of $621, much lower than the Iowa median of $739 and the national $840.25. Renter-occupied housing accounts for 19.55% of occupied homes, a bit above the state's 19.29% but below the national 21.81%.
The median home value is $138,100, slightly higher than Iowa's $134,900 yet well under the national $173,750. The median property tax rate of 1.22% is lower than the state's 1.27%, though it is still higher than the national rate of 0.74%.
Median household income is $60,064, below the state's $67,426 and the national $65,108. Unemployment is exceptionally low at 0.78%, compared with 1.88% statewide and 2.87% nationally, suggesting that jobs are plentiful even though earnings trail the averages.
Altogether, Howard County pairs very low rents and a lighter-than-state tax rate with home values near the Iowa median. Lower incomes are offset by one of the tightest job markets in these comparisons, which supports a stable housing market.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Howard
Howard County property records include tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, property valuations, and foreclosure filings. The county has 13,726 total parcels, including 4,943 residential and 501 commercial parcels, and tax records cover 95.2% of the population for the 2024 assessment year. Recorded documents include 10,131 deeds and 7,071 mortgages, and valuation data covers 3,233 properties.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 13,726 |
| Residential Parcels | 4,943 |
| Commercial Parcels | 501 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 95.2% |
| Assessment Year | 2024 |
| Deed Records | 10,131 |
| Mortgage Records | 7,071 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 3,233 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 19, 2025 |
| Notice of Sale Records | 6 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records document what happens to a mortgage after recording. An assignment shows the mortgage was transferred to a new lender or holder, while a release shows the loan was satisfied and the lien removed.
Howard County has 8,557 assignment and release records, including 488 assignment documents, 8,063 release documents, and 6 other documents. Assignments were recorded from January 17, 2006, to June 16, 2025, and releases from January 3, 2006, to June 30, 2025.
Property researchers use these records to identify who holds a loan, follow its history between lenders, and verify that earlier mortgages were released. This helps buyers, owners, and title professionals avoid surprises before a sale or refinance.
How to Search Howard County, IA Property Records
Howard County deeds, mortgages, and related records are kept by the Howard County Recorder's Office in Cresco. The county's records include 13,726 parcels, deed and mortgage filings from January 3, 2007, to June 30, 2025, valuation data for 3,233 properties, and foreclosure filings from September 19, 2016.
Start with the Howard County Recorder's Office website, the county's official page for recorded documents and recording information.
The office is at 137 North Elm Street, Cresco, IA 52136, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 563-547-9210 to ask about requesting copies or locating a record.
Before you begin, collect the property address, owner name, or parcel number. Use the most complete details available, review matching records, and check names and recording dates to make sure you have the correct property. Searching by owner name over a range of years can uncover earlier transfers of the same parcel.
Howard Registrar of Deeds
The Howard County Probate Office is located at 137 North Elm Street, Cresco, IA, 52136 and can be reached at 563-547-9210. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Records can be accessed through the official website howardcounty.iowa.gov.
Howard County County Recorder’s Office
Howard County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Howard County property records by address?
Start with the Howard County Recorder's Office for recorded deed and mortgage records. If an address does not lead to the right parcel, call 563-547-9210 and ask staff to help connect the address to a parcel number or owner name. The office is at 137 North Elm Street, Cresco.
How can I find property owners in Howard County?
Owners of record appear on deeds filed with the Howard County Recorder's Office. The county has 10,131 deed records from January 3, 2007, to June 30, 2025. Call 563-547-9210 to learn how to search by owner name or order copies.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Howard County?
Howard County's tax records show the 2024 assessment year, with the assessor's last update on August 25, 2025. The county assessor sets assessed values, so contact that office for a particular parcel. The Recorder's Office at 563-547-9210 can direct you to the right desk.
Where can I find Howard County property tax bills and payment records?
In Iowa, the county treasurer bills and collects property taxes. For Howard County bills or payment history, contact the treasurer at the courthouse in Cresco. The Recorder's Office at 563-547-9210 can share the correct number. Tax records cover tax year 2024.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Howard County?
The Howard County Recorder's Office records deeds, mortgages, assignments, and releases. Visit 137 North Elm Street, Cresco, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, or call 563-547-9210. Deed and mortgage records run from January 3, 2007, to June 30, 2025.
Where can I access Howard County parcel maps and GIS information?
Howard County has 13,726 parcels. Parcel maps and GIS layers are usually kept by county assessment or mapping offices rather than the Recorder. Call 563-547-9210 or see the Recorder's website for help locating the right department. Maps are references, not legal surveys.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Howard County?
Permits and zoning are not handled by the Recorder's Office. For Howard County, call 563-547-9210 to be pointed to the right county contact, and check with the city, such as Cresco, for properties within city limits where local rules may apply.
How can I create a list of property owners in Howard County?
Owner lookups work property by property through recorded deeds from the Howard County Recorder's Office. For a larger owner list, call 563-547-9210 and ask what copy or bulk services exist and whether fees apply.