How to Find Remaining Mortgage Balance on a Property (Yours or Someone Else's)

To find the remaining mortgage balance on your own property, log into your lender’s website or check your monthly statement—the current balance appears on page one. To find what someone else owes on their mortgage, search county property records online, request a mortgage payoff statement through a title company, or check public recording databases. The county recorder’s office shows the original loan amount and recording date, which you can use to estimate the current balance.

How to Find Your Own Mortgage Balance

Finding your mortgage balance takes about 30 seconds if you know where to look.

Check Your Monthly Statement

Every mortgage statement shows your current principal balance. Look on page one for a line labeled “Principal Balance” or “Outstanding Balance.” This number updates after each payment posts.

Jennifer Walsh received her January statement showing a $247,832 balance. After her February payment of $1,847 (with $1,102 going to principal), her March statement showed $246,730.

Log Into Your Servicer’s Website

Most servicers offer online account access. Your dashboard typically displays:

• Current principal balance
• Last payment received
• Next payment due date
• Escrow balance
• Interest rate

Common servicer websites:

• Mr. Cooper: mrcooper.com
• Wells Fargo: wellsfargo.com/mortgage
• Chase: chase.com/personal/mortgage
• Rocket Mortgage: rocketmortgage.com
• loanDepot: loandepot.com

Call Your Servicer

If you can’t access your account online, call the customer service number on your statement. Have your loan number ready. Representatives can provide:

• Current balance
• Payoff quote (valid for 10-30 days)
• Payment history
• Escrow analysis

Use Your Servicer’s Mobile App

Most major servicers have apps that show your balance instantly. Download your servicer’s app, log in with the same credentials as the website, and your balance appears on the home screen.

Marcus Thompson checks his Mr. Cooper app every month. It shows his balance dropped from $312,450 to $311,206 after his last payment—$1,244 went to principal while $1,456 covered interest.

How to Find the Mortgage Principal Balance

Your principal balance is different from your payoff amount. Understanding both matters when selling or refinancing.

Principal Balance vs. Payoff Amount

Principal balance: What you owe as of your last payment. This number appears on statements.

Payoff amount: What you’d need to pay today to completely satisfy the loan. This includes:

• Principal balance
• Accrued interest since last payment
• Any fees (recording, wire transfer)
• Prepayment penalty (if applicable)

Angela Martinez’s statement showed a $198,400 principal balance. When she requested a payoff quote to refinance, the amount came to $198,847—the extra $447 covered 15 days of accrued interest plus a $25 wire fee.

Requesting a Payoff Quote

To get an official payoff amount:

1. Call your servicer and request a payoff statement
2. Specify the payoff date (usually 10-30 days out)
3. Receive the quote by mail, email or fax
4. Quote is typically valid for 10-30 days

Payoff quotes are free. You’ll need one for:

• Selling your home
• Refinancing
• Paying off the loan early

How to Find Out What Someone Else Owes on Their Mortgage

Finding another person’s mortgage balance requires some detective work since the exact current balance isn’t public record. However, you can get close.

Check County Property Records Online

County recorder offices maintain records of all real estate transactions including mortgages. Most counties offer free online searches.

What you’ll find:

• Original loan amount
• Recording date
• Lender name
• Property address
• Borrower names

What you won’t find:

• Current balance
• Payment history
• Interest rate

To estimate the current balance, note the original amount and recording date. Use a mortgage calculator with the original amount and assume 30-year terms at historical rates for that period.

David Park researched a property in Phoenix before making an offer. County records showed a $285,000 mortgage recorded in 2019. Using average 2019 rates (3.75%), he estimated the current balance around $258,000 after 5 years of payments.

How to Search County Records

Step 1: Find your county’s property records website. Search “[County name] property records” or “[County name] recorder of deeds.”

Step 2: Search by property address or owner name.

Step 3: Look for recorded documents, specifically deeds of trust or mortgages.

Step 4: Note the original loan amount and recording date.

Popular County Record Sites

County	Website
Los Angeles, CA	registrar.lacounty.gov
Cook County, IL	cookrecorder.com
Harris County, TX	cclerk.hctx.net
Maricopa County, AZ	recorder.maricopa.gov
Miami-Dade, FL	miami-dade.county-taxes.com

Use Title Search Services

Title companies can provide detailed mortgage information through a title search. This costs $75-$200 but provides more detail than free public records.

What a title search reveals:

• All recorded liens and mortgages
• Original loan amounts
• Lender names and contact information
• Any subordinate financing (second mortgages, HELOCs)

Real estate investors often order title searches before making offers on properties they want to purchase.

Online Property Data Services

Several websites aggregate property and mortgage data:

Zillow: Shows estimated mortgage balance under “Home details” (estimate only)

PropertyShark: Detailed property reports including mortgage info (subscription required)

ATTOM Data: Professional-grade property data (subscription required)

County assessor websites: Tax and ownership info, sometimes mortgage data

Patricia Okonkwo used Zillow’s estimate to gauge a neighbor’s equity before approaching them about selling. The estimate showed approximately $180,000 remaining on a home worth $340,000—suggesting significant equity that might motivate a sale.

Find Out How Much Someone Owes on Their Mortgage: Why It Matters

Knowing mortgage balances on other properties helps in several situations.

Buying Off-Market Properties

Investors and homebuyers sometimes approach homeowners directly. Knowing the approximate mortgage balance helps you:

• Estimate the owner’s equity
• Understand their motivation to sell
• Structure an appropriate offer

Inheriting Property

If you inherit a home with a mortgage, you need to find the balance. The servicer should contact you, but if they don’t:

1. Search for mortgage statements in the deceased’s records
2. Check county records for the lender name
3. Contact the lender with death certificate and proof of inheritance

Divorce Proceedings

During divorce, both parties need accurate mortgage information. If one spouse handles finances:

• Request statements directly from the servicer
• Have your attorney subpoena records if necessary
• Order a title search for complete lien information

Foreclosure Research

Investors researching pre-foreclosure properties check mortgage balances to assess deals. Public notices show:

• Amount in default
• Original loan amount
• Lender information

Check Mortgage Balance Online: Step-by-Step

Here’s exactly how to find your balance through major servicers.

Mr. Cooper (formerly Nationstar)

1. Go to mrcooper.com
2. Click “Sign In” in upper right
3. Enter email and password
4. Balance appears on dashboard homepage
5. Click “Loan Details” for full breakdown

Wells Fargo

1. Go to wellsfargo.com
2. Click “Sign On”
3. Enter username and password
4. Select your mortgage account
5. Current balance displays on account summary

Chase

1. Go to chase.com
2. Click “Sign in”
3. Enter credentials
4. Click on mortgage account
5. “Current principal balance” shows on overview

Rocket Mortgage

1. Go to rocketmortgage.com
2. Click “Sign In”
3. Enter email and password
4. Dashboard shows current balance
5. Click “Loan Details” for amortization

If You Don’t Know Your Servicer

Your servicer might have changed since you got the loan. To find your current servicer:

1. Check your most recent statement
2. Search MERS (Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems) at maboronline.org
3. Check your credit report—servicer appears as creditor

Mortgage Balance Lookup for Investors

Real estate investors regularly research mortgage balances on target properties. Here’s the professional approach.

Step 1: County Records Search

Start with free public records. Record the:

• Original loan amount
• Recording date
• Lender name
• Any subsequent refinances or second mortgages

Step 2: Estimate Current Balance

Use an amortization calculator:

• Original amount from records
• Assumed interest rate (check historical averages)
• Standard 30-year term
• Calculate balance at current date

Step 3: Verify with Title Search

If the deal moves forward, order a title search for accurate current information.

Step 4: Approach the Owner

Armed with estimated balance and property value, you can estimate equity and structure an offer.

Carlos Mendez targets properties with high equity for his wholesaling business. He found a 2016 purchase with a $195,000 original mortgage. Estimating the current balance at $165,000 on a home worth $310,000, he approached the owner about selling. The actual balance was $168,000—close to his estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my mortgage principal balance?

Check your monthly statement or log into your servicer’s website. The principal balance appears on your dashboard or the first page of your statement. For a payoff amount (what you’d pay to close the loan today), call your servicer and request a payoff quote.

Can I find out how much is owed on someone else’s mortgage?

You can find the original loan amount and recording date through county property records. The exact current balance isn’t public, but you can estimate it using mortgage calculators. Title searches provide more detail but cost $75-$200.

How do I check my mortgage balance online?

Go to your servicer’s website (Mr. Cooper, Wells Fargo, Chase, etc.) and sign in. Your current balance appears on the dashboard or account summary. Most servicers also have mobile apps showing the same information.

Where can I find mortgage information on a property?

Start with your county recorder’s office—most have free online search tools. Look for recorded deeds of trust or mortgages. You’ll see the original loan amount, lender and recording date. For more detail, order a title search through a title company.

How do I find out who holds my mortgage?

Check your monthly statement—the servicer name and address appear on it. If you’ve lost statements, check your credit report or search MERS (Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems). Your servicer may be different from your original lender if the loan was sold.

What’s the difference between mortgage balance and payoff amount?

Your mortgage balance is what you owe as of your last payment. The payoff amount includes accrued interest since that payment plus any fees. Payoff amounts are typically $200-$1,000 higher than the stated balance depending on when you’re paying off.