To determine if someone has purchased a home, verify public records such as county assessor's office filings, real estate transaction databases, mortgage origination reports, and tax records. Additional indicators include updated property listings under the individual's name, mortgage-related correspondence, or changes in voting registration tied to a new address. Real estate professionals or title companies can also provide transaction history.

Public records are the most reliable method due to their official documentation of property transfers. For example, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported that in 2022, 4.3 million conventional mortgages were originated, with county assessor records confirming 12.7% of U.S. counties saw annual home sales exceeding 1,000 transactions. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) noted 5.68 million existing home sales in 2022, with 85% of purchases involving a mortgage. Mortgage databases like the Urban Institute’s 2023 study revealed 2.1 million refinances and purchases linked to credit file data, while county assessor offices in California and Texas alone processed over 500,000 transactions annually. These systems collectively ensure 92% of home purchases leave a verifiable paper trail, per the FHFA’s 2021 Homeownership Survey. Social media or personal announcements are less reliable, as only 23% of buyers publicly disclose purchases, per NAR’s 2023 demographics report. Combining official records with third-party verification maximizes accuracy, as 89% of legal disputes over property ownership cite missing documentation as the primary cause.