How To Search for Paterson Property Records

Before buying or investing in real estate in New Jersey, make sure that you check property records to verify details and safeguard your investment. They contain essential information that can help you make informed decisions. With a little research, you can find ownership history, property values, tax assessments, liens, zoning data, legal filings, and more. Paterson property records are public, meaning anyone can view or copy them; you just need to know where to look. We have put together a list of helpful resources below that you can use to search for Paterson property records.

Passaic County Clerk's Office

The Passaic County Clerk's Office keeps official records of all documents that affect the ownership and transfer of real property in the City of Paterson. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, assignments of rents and leases, easements, tax sale certificates, and more. The clerk's office provides a Records Search System that you can use to look up Paterson property records online by name, document type, instrument number, or block and lot. You can also visit the office's registry division at Room 113, 401 Grand Street, Paterson, NJ 07505, to search for and copy these records in person. Note that copy fees may apply. You can call the registry division at (973) 881-4777 for more information.

Paterson Department of Finance

The Paterson Department of Finance is a centralized agency responsible for managing the city's financial operations. This department is made up of several divisions that handle a wide range of financial functions, including valuing property in the city for tax purposes and collecting tax payments. This makes the department an excellent resource for different types of property records, such as ownership details, property characteristics, assessed values, sales histories, and tax statements. The department offers an assessment records search platform that you can use to look up this information online. You can search by address, name, or block and lot number. You can also visit the department at 155 Market St., Paterson, NJ 07505 for in-person services, or call them at (973) 321-1350 for assistance.

New Jersey Superior Court - Passaic Vicinage

The New Jersey Superior Court - Passaic Vicinage is another great source for property records, particularly records related to legal actions, like foreclosures, liens, title disputes, and civil judgments that may affect the property's ownership. You can look up these records online by name or case number using the New Jersey Judiciary's case search platform (account registration may be required). You can also request copies of records in person at the Passaic County Courthouse, located at 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505.

Passaic County Board of Taxation

The Passaic County Board of Taxation oversees property tax administration in the City of Paterson. You can look up information like property ownership, characteristics, sales history, and assessment data online using the board's Property Tax Search tool. Search results can be filtered by several criteria, including name, address, date, property type, and size. If you prefer in-person services, you can visit the board's office at Room 105, 401 Grand Street, Paterson, NJ 07505. You may also call (973) 720-7399 if you wish to speak to someone before heading there.

Paterson property taxes are a major funding source for local government services, including public schools, police and fire departments, libraries, emergency services, street maintenance, and community programs. The Paterson Department of Finance handles the city's taxation process: its Tax Assessor's Office appraises and evaluates property for tax purposes, while its Revenue Collection Division is responsible for collecting and distributing tax payments. Properties are evaluated to determine their assessed value, which is based on the property's fair market value (its likely selling price under typical conditions). This value is then multiplied by a tax rate (set by municipal, county, and school authorities) to calculate the tax bill.

Tax bills are mailed out once a year, and payments are divided into four installments, due on February 1st, May 1st, August 1st, and November 1st. The city offers a grace period of up to ten days before late payment penalties are applied. The interest rate for late payments is 8% interest per year on the first $1,500 owed and 18% per year on amounts exceeding $1,500. Note that this interest accrues daily. Additional penalties and fees will also be charged the longer the taxes remain unpaid, including a lien being placed on the property and possible foreclosure. The City of Paterson offers an online platform that can be used to pay tax bills. Payments may also be made by mail or in person at the Department of Finance's Revenue Collection Division. You can call (973) 321-1350 for more information.

Assessments

The Paterson Department of Finance (through its Tax Assessor's Office) conducts annual assessments of all taxable properties in the city to determine their fair market value. Different valuation methods may be used depending on the property type. These include the sales comparison approach (evaluating recent sales of similar properties), the income approach (based on potential rental income), and the cost approach (replacement cost minus depreciation). Once the market value is estimated, the property's assessed value is determined, and this figure is used to calculate the tax bill.

Assessment notices are typically sent out to property owners early in the year, usually before February 1st. The notice outlines your property's assessed value and also provides information on how to appeal the valuation. Generally, if you disagree with your assessment, you can file an appeal with the Passaic County Board of Taxation, though appeals for properties assessed at more than $1,000,000 may be filed directly to the New Jersey State Tax Court. Appeals must usually be submitted by April 1st or 45 days after assessment notices were bulk mailed, whichever is later. Appeal forms can be downloaded from the official websites of both the Tax Assessor's Office and the Board of Taxation. You can call either of these agencies at (973) 321-1350 (Department of Finance) and (973) 720-7399 (Board of Taxation) for more information.

Appraisals

Paterson assessments work similarly to appraisals. They both determine the fair market value of property by comparing similar properties with others in the local area that have sold recently. In cases of odd structures or new construction, the county may call upon an appraiser to help determine the value. Estate planners, courts, and lenders also use appraisals to value real property.

Tax Rates

The median effective property tax rate in Paterson, New Jersey, is 4.64%, which is significantly higher than both the national median of 1.02% and the New Jersey state median of 2.82%. The average annual tax bill in the city is $8,903, which is also much higher than the national average of $2,400.

Here's how Paterson's tax rate compares to other counties in New Jersey:

• Atlantic County 3.23%
• Bergen County 2.73%
• Camden County 3.17%
• Cumberland County 2.69%
• Essex County 3.51%
• Hudson County 2.12%
• Middlesex County 5.10%
• Monmouth County 1.86%
• Morris County 2.63%
• Ocean County 2.26%
• Somerset County 2.05%
• Sussex County 3.40%

Exemptions

Property tax rates in Paterson are among the highest in the state, and some homeowners may find it difficult to keep up with payments. Fortunately, there are several programs available to eligible residents of the city that can help reduce their tax burden. These include:

• Disabled Veterans Exemption: Provides a full exemption for honorably discharged veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to active-duty service.
• Senior Freeze Program: Reimburses qualifying senior citizens (65+) and disabled residents for increases in property taxes on their primary residence.
• ANCHOR Program: Available to homeowners and renters in the city who meet certain income eligibility requirements.
• Stay NJ Program: Offers eligible senior homeowners a reimbursement covering up to 50% of their property tax bill, subject to state limits.
• Annual Deductions: Offers a $250 property tax deduction to eligible senior citizens, veterans, disabled persons, and their surviving spouses.

You can call the Paterson Department of Finance at (973) 321-1350 or visit its Tax Assessor's Office in person at 155 Market St., Paterson, NJ 07505 for more details and application requirements.

All new construction and most home renovation or repair projects in Paterson require a permit. Exceptions may be made for cosmetic work like painting and minor repairs or improvements that do not alter the building's structure or systems, like installing kitchen cabinets. The Paterson Department of Economic Development oversees the city's permitting and inspections process. You can apply for necessary permits through the department's UCC/Construction Division, located at 111 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07505. The city is also developing a new permitting system that can be used to request permits, schedule inspections, and perform other permit-related actions online. You can call (973) 321-1549 or (973) 321-1220 for more information.

Common types of permits available in Paterson include:

• Building Permits: For new construction, additions, and any work that alters a building's structure.
• Electrical Permits: For installing or modifying wiring and other electrical systems.
• Mechanical Permits: For work involving heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
• Plumbing Permits: For installing, altering, or repairing plumbing systems.

When applying for any of these permits, you must submit the proper documentation (building plans, blueprints, contractor licenses, materials lists, etc.). You must also pay the appropriate fee.

Building inspections are part of the permit process, and they ensure that the work complies with local building and safety codes. You can schedule an inspection through the online portal or in person at the office during regular business hours.

Nicknamed "Silk City" for its once-dominant role in the silk industry, Paterson is considered the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution and was the nation's first planned industrial city. Paterson is home to the iconic Great Falls of the Passaic River, one of the largest waterfalls in an urban area. The city is also known for its vibrant immigrant communities, historic architecture, and growing arts scene, making it a dynamic urban center with deep historical roots and ongoing revitalization efforts.

Paterson, New Jersey, has a population of 159,732 residents. The city has 51,363 housing units: 48,639 of these units are occupied and 2,724 are vacant, indicating an occupancy rate of nearly 95%. Paterson offers a diverse range of housing options, including single-family homes, historic brownstones, rowhouses, townhomes, modern high-rise condos, multi-family homes, mixed-use buildings, and public housing. Common housing styles found in the city include Colonial, Queen Anne, Victorian, Italianate, Ranch, Cape Cod, and Contemporary. The average home price in Paterson, NJ, is $519,911, up by 5.8% over the past years. Note that actual prices can vary depending on the neighborhood. Here are a few examples of average home prices in different neighborhoods across Paterson:

• Eastside $555,606
• Northside $443,748
• People's Park $560,990
• Riverside $519,334
• Sandy Hill $468,123
• Wrigley Park $435,428

The Paterson, New Jersey, real estate market is quite competitive. Prices have increased in response to the city's ongoing revitalization efforts. Despite high property taxes, there is still steady demand due to the city's relatively accessible entry points into the North Jersey housing market. Homes typically go under contract in around 50 days, and roughly 15 - 20% of listings sell above asking price.