Carteret County, NC Property Records
Property records in Carteret, North Carolina document key details about real estate parcels, including ownership, mailing address, legal description, parcel identification number, acreage, assessed value, tax history, sales information, and related maps or plats. These records are useful for buyers, sellers, property owners, attorneys, appraisers, and researchers who need to verify ownership, review tax obligations, estimate property values, or understand parcel boundaries and land-use history.
Users can access official Carteret property records through county government resources, including the Tax Office, GIS mapping tools, and the Register of Deeds for recorded documents such as deeds and plats. To begin, visit the county’s official site for Carteret property records, where users can find links to the appropriate departments and online search tools.
Carteret County, NC Property Records & Statistics
Carteret County has a coastal housing market with above-average prices and a notably low tax rate. The median rent is $1,030, above the state median of $846.75 and the national median of $840.25. Renter-occupied housing is 20.64% of homes, lower than the state share of 25.4% and the national share of 21.81%, so ownership is the norm.
The median home value is $264,300, much higher than North Carolina's $176,900 and the national $173,750. At the same time, the median property tax rate of 0.51% is well under the state rate of 0.72% and the national rate of 0.74%, which keeps annual tax costs lower than the home values might suggest.
Household income of $67,888 is above the state median of $57,889.50 and the national median of $65,108, helping residents absorb the higher housing costs. The unemployment rate of 2.09% is lower than both the state's 3.02% and the national 2.87%, pointing to a healthy labor market.
In summary, Carteret County combines higher rents and home values with a low tax rate, above-average incomes, and low unemployment, and its ownership-heavy housing stock reflects a stable local market.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Carteret
Carteret County property records include tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, valuations, and foreclosure filings. The county has 62,418 total parcels, including 42,832 residential and 1,422 commercial parcels, with tax records covering 95.88% of the population for the 2024 assessment year. Recorded documents include 120,631 deeds and 65,701 mortgages, and the latest valuation update was August 19, 2025.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 62,418 |
| Residential Parcels | 42,832 |
| Commercial Parcels | 1,422 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 95.88% |
| Assessment Year | 2024 |
| Deed Records | 120,631 |
| Mortgage Records | 65,701 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 37,815 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 19, 2025 |
| Notice of Trustee Sale Records | 5,640 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records show what happens to a mortgage after it is recorded. An assignment documents a loan moving from one lender or holder to another, while a release confirms that the debt was paid off and the lien removed.
Carteret County has 96,296 assignment and release records, including 6,660 assignment documents, 89,554 release documents, and 82 other documents. Assignments were recorded from January 18, 2005, to August 29, 2025, and releases from June 8, 1990, to August 29, 2025.
Researchers can use these records to confirm that earlier mortgages were satisfied, follow a loan through its transfers, and find liens that may still be open before a sale or refinance. Search them through the Carteret County Register of Deeds records search.
How to Search Carteret County, NC Property Records
Carteret County's deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, and related documents are kept by the Register of Deeds in Beaufort. These records help confirm ownership, review a property's transaction history, and check for liens across the county's 62,418 parcels.
To search recorded documents online, use the Carteret County Register of Deeds records search. For office services, recording information, and contact details, visit the Carteret County Register of Deeds page.
The office is at 302 Courthouse Square, Beaufort, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can call 252-728-8474 for help.
To search, have the owner name, grantor or grantee, or an approximate recording date ready. Enter the most complete name you know, narrow the results by date or document type, and open the record that matches the property. If something does not appear online, contact the office.
Carteret Registrar of Deeds
The Carteret County Probate Office is located at 302 Courthouse Square, Beaufort, NC, 28516 and can be reached at 252-728-8474. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Records can be accessed through deeds.carteretcounty.com or the official website carteretcountync.gov.
Carteret County Register of Deeds
Carteret County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Carteret County property records by address?
Recorded documents are normally searched by name, and the address helps confirm the property. Use the Carteret County Register of Deeds records search to find deeds for a parcel. If you need help matching an address to a recorded document, call the office at 252-728-8474.
How can I find property owners in Carteret County?
Owners are named on recorded deeds. Search a known name in the Register of Deeds records search to view that person's deeds, or look up a previous owner to trace the chain of title. The Register of Deeds office at 302 Courthouse Square, Beaufort, can also help in person.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Carteret County?
Carteret County's tax records reflect the 2024 assessment year. Assessed values come from the county's tax assessment staff, with information on the Carteret County website. Contact the county to ask about a specific parcel's value or how to request a review of an assessment.
Where can I find Carteret County property tax bills and payment records?
Property tax bills and payments are handled by the county's tax collection office, not the Register of Deeds. Visit the Carteret County website for payment options and contact details. The North Carolina Department of Revenue offers general statewide property tax information.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Carteret County?
The Register of Deeds keeps deeds, mortgages, releases, and other recorded documents. Search them online through the records search, or visit 302 Courthouse Square, Beaufort, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The department page has more information.
Where can I access Carteret County parcel maps and GIS information?
NC OneMap offers statewide parcel and map data from North Carolina's official geospatial portal. Additional county mapping tools may be listed on the Carteret County website. Parcel maps are helpful for reference but are not a legal survey of a property's boundaries.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Carteret County?
Requirements depend on whether the property sits inside one of the county's municipalities or in the unincorporated area, and coastal properties may have additional rules. Start at the Carteret County website to find the right permitting office, and confirm requirements before building or changing a property's use.
How can I create a list of property owners in Carteret County?
Online tools work best for one name or document at a time. To compile owners, search recorded deeds in the Register of Deeds records search. For larger or bulk requests, call the Register of Deeds at 252-728-8474 to ask what is available.