We don’t decide whether a property is good. We make sure you know what
needs deciding.
What it is
The Montrose Brief. Paste an address; get a client-ready report of what the
public records show, what they leave unestablished, and the questions worth
resolving before an offer — every line carrying its source and the date
it was checked.
Specimen — illustrative
17 Montrose Avenue
What the records show
Building permit B-2019-04412, deck addition, status Finaled 2019-08-14.County permit portal · checked 2026-08-30
2026 assessment: land $310,000, building $488,400, total $798,400.County assessor · checked 2026-08-30
Parcel centroid falls in mapped flood zone AE, Special Flood Hazard Area.Federal flood hazard layer · checked 2026-08-30
What the records do not establish
Permit history before 2004 is absent from the county system, which migrated that year.Where to look: county records room, by legacy permit number
Flood status was read at the parcel centroid rather than the full boundary.Where to look: the effective FIRM panel, against the recorded plat
Questions worth resolving
Confirm the status of permit B-2024-11987 with the building department.
Obtain a flood insurance quote before contingency deadlines.
Ask what accounts for the gap between the 2021 sale price and the current assessment.
Montrose Briefs report public records. They are not inspections, title searches,
or legal advice.
Launching first in Northern Virginia. Join the list for early access.