VALDOSTA — Those who enjoy the convenience of finding detailed real estate information on Lowndes County properties at the county’s Web site may now have to pay for the service if they use it for commercial purposes, Lowndes County Chief Appraiser Jo Ann Spicer said.

For most of us, the simple search for information on a parcel of land by owner’s name, parcel number or street address will remain free of charge. You can still learn who owns the property, the physical address where the property is located, and the current values assigned to the house, land or other items.

“You can even find limited information at the bottom of the screen about recent sales of the property; the selling price, date of the sale, etc.,” Spicer said. “As a private citizen, you can look up information on as many properties as you like.”

What will cost some researchers is gaining access to more advanced capabilities, such as maps that include measuring tools, aerial photography, user-defined lists of properties that have sold within particular neighborhood, Spicer said.

“A credit card will be required for online registration for these additional features,” she said.

Fees are aimed at commercial users, such as real estate agents, lawyers, surveyors and people across Georgia and the nation who want to research land in Lowndes County.

The subscription rates are as follows:

• One user: $20 per month or $200 per year.

• Two to four users: $30 per month or $300 per year.

• Five to 12 users: $60 per month or $600 per year.

• More than 12 users: $120 per month or $1,200 per year.

The new Web site can be used, currently, by pasting http://qpublic.net/ga/lowndes/ in your Web browser address window. The old Web site is still located at www.lowndescounty.com/search.asp, but will soon disappear.

The old Web site was not as easily updated as the current one and contained none of the advanced features in the new Web site, which is now updated every 30 days, Spicer said.

“Our new Web site is such a valuable tool,” she said. “Because it contains so many additional search features that keep businesses from ever having to leave the convenience of their home or office computers, we felt like the majority of local citizens who use the web site, being individual homeowners, should not have to bear the expense for maintaining the data base and added features that most of the general public probably won’t use anyway.”

The new Web site is much more user friendly. Those who need assistance in learning how to use the new Web site should call or stop by Spicer’s office to request help, she said.

“The (subscription) fees pay for maintaining and enhancing the Web site,” Spicer said. “At this point, we have no way of estimating potential revenues from the fees to compare to actual costs for keeping up the Web site. But after collecting fees for the first year, we anticipate adjusting fees downward so that we collect no more than is necessary to provide excellent service to local taxpayers.”

For information, contact the Assessors’ office at 229-671-2540.