[header] How to do a deed search [title] Gather information on the property. [step] The street address is a good place to start, but you will also want to track down more specific information about the current owner, such as whether or not they are selling the property. [substeps] One good piece of information to get is the assessor's parcel number (apn). 
This is a unique number assigned by a tax assessor that contain particular information about the property. Depending on the location you are looking in, it may also be called the property tax or parcel identification number.