Burke County, NC Property Records
Property records in Burke, North Carolina provide official information about real estate ownership, transfers, boundaries, and related legal filings within Burke County. These records may include deeds, plats, mortgages, liens, easements, and other documents that help establish property history and ownership rights. They are useful for buyers, sellers, attorneys, lenders, title researchers, surveyors, and residents who need to verify property details or review past transactions.
Users can access official Burke property records through the Burke County Register of Deeds, which maintains recorded land documents for the county. The county’s government website provides information about searching and obtaining copies of recorded documents through the office’s online and in-person services. To begin, visit the county’s page for official Burke property records.
Burke County, NC Property Records & Statistics
Housing in Burke County is considerably more affordable than in North Carolina as a whole. The median rent is $722.50, compared with $846.75 statewide and $840.25 nationally. Renter-occupied housing makes up 25.39% of homes, essentially matching the state share of 25.4% and running above the national share of 21.81%.
The median home value is $156,800, below both the state median of $176,900 and the national median of $173,750. The median property tax rate of 0.72% is identical to the state rate and slightly under the national rate of 0.74%, so owners pay a typical North Carolina rate on a lower-than-average home value.
Incomes are more modest. The median household income of $51,348 trails the state median of $57,889.50 and the national median of $65,108. The unemployment rate of 3.37% is also a little higher than the state's 3.02% and the national 2.87%, which suggests a labor market that is somewhat softer than average.
Overall, the figures describe a county with lower housing costs, lower home values, and below-average incomes, where a typical tax rate and relatively low prices keep homeownership within reach even as job conditions trail the state and nation.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Burke
Burke County property records include tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, valuations, and foreclosure filings. The county has 59,366 total parcels, including 34,400 residential and 706 commercial parcels, with tax records covering 94.35% of the population for the 2024 assessment year. The Register of Deeds holds 105,618 deeds and 47,072 mortgages, and the latest valuation update was August 19, 2025.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 59,366 |
| Residential Parcels | 34,400 |
| Commercial Parcels | 706 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 94.35% |
| Assessment Year | 2024 |
| Deed Records | 105,618 |
| Mortgage Records | 47,072 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 26,783 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 19, 2025 |
| Notice of Trustee Sale Records | 8,232 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records track the life of a mortgage after it is recorded. An assignment shows a loan being transferred between lenders or loan holders, and a release shows that the debt was satisfied and the lien lifted from the property.
Burke County has 66,717 assignment and release records, including 6,508 assignment documents, 60,150 release documents, and 59 other documents. Both assignments and releases were recorded from January 3, 2005, to September 4, 2025.
These records are useful when researching a property because they show whether past loans were paid off, who currently holds a mortgage, and whether any older liens remain open before a sale or refinance. Search them through the Burke County Register of Deeds records search.
How to Search Burke County, NC Property Records
Burke County's deeds, mortgages, and related real estate documents are maintained by the Register of Deeds in Morganton. Records can be used to confirm ownership, review a property's transaction history, and check for liens across the county's 59,366 parcels.
For online research, use the Burke County Register of Deeds records search to look up recorded documents. The office's main page, Burke County Register of Deeds, has contact details and service information, and the county also offers Burke County real estate forms and an eRecording page for submitting documents electronically.
You can visit the office at 201 S Green Street, Morganton, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or call 828-764-9340.
To search, have the owner name, grantor or grantee, or document details ready. Enter the most complete name, narrow results by date range or document type, and open the matching record. If a document does not appear online, contact the office for help.
Burke Registrar of Deeds
The Burke County Probate Office is located at 201 S Green Street, Morganton, NC, 28655 and can be reached at 828-764-9340. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Records can be accessed through us5.courthousecomputersystems.com or the official website burkenc.org.
Burke County Register of Deeds
Burke County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Burke County property records by address?
Recorded documents are most easily found by owner name, but the address can help you confirm you have the right property. Use the Burke County Register of Deeds records search to find deeds for a parcel. For help matching an address to a recorded document, call the office at 828-764-9340.
How can I find property owners in Burke County?
Owners are identified on recorded deeds. Search the Register of Deeds records search by a known name to see the deeds in that person's chain of title, or look up a previous owner to trace a property's history. The Register of Deeds office can also assist in person at 201 S Green Street, Morganton.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Burke County?
Burke County's tax records reflect the 2024 assessment year. Assessed values are set by the county's tax assessment staff rather than the Register of Deeds, and details are available through the Burke County website. Contact the county to ask about a specific parcel's value or to learn how to appeal an assessment.
Where can I find Burke County property tax bills and payment records?
Property tax bills and payments are handled by the county's tax collection office. Visit the Burke County website to find payment options and contact information for the tax office. The North Carolina Department of Revenue also offers general property tax guidance for the state.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Burke County?
The Burke County Register of Deeds keeps deeds, mortgages, releases, and other recorded documents. Search them online through the records search, or visit 201 S Green Street, Morganton, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The county's real estate forms page covers recording paperwork.
Where can I access Burke County parcel maps and GIS information?
NC OneMap, the state's official geospatial portal, provides statewide parcel and map data. Additional mapping tools may be listed on the Burke County website. Parcel maps are helpful for general reference but are not a legal survey of a property's boundaries.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Burke County?
Permit and zoning rules depend on whether a property lies inside a city or town or in the unincorporated county. Check the Burke County website for the appropriate permitting department, and confirm requirements with that office before starting construction, adding a structure, or changing how a property is used.
How can I create a list of property owners in Burke County?
Online tools are designed for one property or one name at a time. To build a list, search recorded deeds in the Register of Deeds records search. For larger or bulk requests, call the Register of Deeds at 828-764-9340 to ask what options are available.