All this blah blah blah about whether it is good or not to know the last sale price...
1. Is it not one of the most basic rules of negotiating to know AS MUCH AS YOU CAN about the property, owner, and general situation?
2. Then, if you can have an ACCURATE price of sale for the property...is it not to YOUR ADVANTAGE to have ACCURATE information on your side as compared to NOT have it?
3. Finally: if you HAD A CHOICE: wouldn't you rather KNOW than NOT KNOW?
CONCLUSION: Better to know

Leon,
Great question, I always check past sales on MLS and tax records before I write an offer. That along with recent sales in the area for the last six months should give you a good starting point. If you don't have access to MLS and/or tax records call the city or county, they should be able to tell you what the property sold for last.
Michael

Hi Leon, try http://www.propertyshark.com

Your agent can pull this information from the MLS or the county tax records. By the way the last selling price does not have an impact on the current value.

I agree with everyone else - what difference does it make? The property is worth what it is worth. What if you found out the person inherited the property for nothing? Does that mean you should get to buy it free?

If I got a great deal from a foreclosure, and then spent hundreds of dollars rehabbing, that doesn't mean that the price I paid has anything to do with market value or what you can buy it for.

I've always been amazed when buyers ask this question and I always answer the same way......it is worth what it is worth, not what someone paid for it and what if they inherited it, and what if they got a good deal then spend thousands on rehab that won't show up on the tax records?

None of the above have anything to do with market value.

I belive the question should be at what price did the last comparable sold for. This determines the market price. What the owner paid for the property doesn't affect the market price.

I agree with both of the above. I would also add that the tax records shoudl be available online. For example, type in the county you live in and tax records and its likely you can find what you want online by typing in the address. The tax records typcially take a few weeks to a few months to update. Good luck!

Why would you want this information? Make an offer on what you feel good about paying for it. It's not going to change if you knew how much they paid.... I

Your agent can get that information either through MLS history if it was sold through the MLS or by pulling up a property profile that tells you last sale date and price.

You should ask your agent to go back on the MLS and see if the last sale is still on there. In some states, you can check the county tax records on line and see if it is in there.

Good Luck!