deedplatState guides / Maine
Maine property data
Maine is a little different. Deeds are recorded by county, but property is assessed and taxed by each city, town and plantation, and the state assesses the unorganized territory. Aroostook and Oxford counties each have two registry districts. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.
- 16Counties
- PublicSale prices
What you can get in Maine
Maine makes most property records public, including what each property sold for. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.
Public everywhere
Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.
- Owners and mailing addressesFrom the local assessor or board of assessors in each city, town and plantation; Maine Revenue Services for the unorganized territory
- Sale pricesEvery transfer is filed with a Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration at the county Registry of Deeds, and Maine Revenue Services offers a public transfer tax lookup.
- Deeds and mortgagesRegister of Deeds in each county or registry district
- Assessed valuesThere is no fixed statewide cycle; each town must keep values between 70% and 110% of market value and revalues when it falls out of line.
- Tax sale listsRun county by county
- Foreclosure filings and salesFiled in court, so they're public early
- Lot linesCounty parcel maps
Depends on the town
Because towns assess and tax property, most assessing cards, tax bills, permits and code enforcement files are kept at the town office, and the Freedom of Access Act covers them.
- Code violations and condemnations
- Building permits
- Rental registration and inspections
- Zoning maps and ordinances
- Water and sewer liens
Not public
What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.
- Owner phone numbers and emails
- Rents and leases
- Active listingsThose live in the MLS
- Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not
How property changes hands here
Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.
Tax sales
Maine does not hold investor tax auctions. The town tax collector records a tax lien certificate, which acts as a mortgage, and if the owner does not pay within 18 months the lien forecloses automatically and the town owns the property. Since 2024 the town must generally list the property with a licensed broker and pay the former owner whatever is left after taxes, interest and costs.
Foreclosure goes through the courts
Lenders must sue in court. After judgment the owner has 90 days to pay off the loan, and if they do not, the lender holds a public sale after newspaper notice.
Land banks
Maine law created the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, a statewide body that helps towns, counties and agencies redevelop blighted, abandoned and tax-acquired property.
Transfer tax
The state transfer tax is $2.20 per $500 of value, split evenly between buyer and seller, and transfers on or after November 1, 2025 owe an extra $3.80 per $500 on value above $1 million.
Worth knowing
Tax-delinquent property in Maine usually goes to the town, not an investor. The way to buy it is from the town's tax-acquired property sale, usually listed with a local broker.
Worth knowing
Assessing is done town by town, so assessed values in one town can sit far below market while the next town just revalued. Check each town's ratio before comparing tax bills.
Every county in Maine
Choose any county to get started.
Questions
Are property sale prices public in Maine?
Yes. Every deed is filed with a Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration at the county Registry of Deeds, and the transfer tax is figured from the value declared. Maine Revenue Services also offers a public transfer tax lookup.
How do tax sales work in Maine?
Maine has no investor tax lien or tax deed auctions. The town records a tax lien, and if it is not paid within 18 months the town takes title automatically. The town then usually sells through a licensed broker and returns any money left over to the former owner.
Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in Maine?
With the Register of Deeds in each county. Aroostook and Oxford counties each have two registry districts, so check which one covers the town.
How often are Maine properties reassessed?
It depends on the town. Maine has no set cycle, but each town must keep assessed values between 70% and 110% of market value, so towns revalue when they drift outside that range.
Is foreclosure judicial in Maine?
Yes. The lender must file a lawsuit. After the judge rules, the owner has 90 days to pay off the loan before the lender can hold a public sale.
Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?
Yes. Maine's Freedom of Access Act lets anyone request records from towns, counties and state agencies, like assessing cards, permits and code enforcement files. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.
Sources for this guide
Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.
- maine.gov/revenue/taxes/property-tax/transfer-tax
- maine.gov/REVENUE/forms/property/pubs/bull1.pdf
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/36/title36sec327.html
- nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-happens-if-i-don-t-pay-property-taxes-in-maine.html
- infobytes.orrick.com/2024-04-19/maine-amends-processes-regarding-sale-foreclosed-propertie
- nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/maine-foreclosure-laws-and-procedures.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/30-A/title30-Asec5152.html
Every parcel, on one map
Deedplat is in beta. Pick any Maine county to get started.