When it comes to buying real property in California, one of the most common questions is: "How to Find California Property Owners Information". Researching property owners may seem like a daunting task, but with the abundance of public records available, it can be easier than you think. In this article, we will explore different methods to find California property owners' information, ensuring that you have the right tools at your disposal.
Local California Tax Assessor Research
Every city or county that assesses property taxes in California maintains records of property ownership within its jurisdiction. The public has the right to search these records for free. Along with property ownership information, you can also find details about property tax exemptions, tax rates, tax liens, and property assessment values.
California Property Deed Searches
The local Recorder's Office, also known as the County Clerk or Registrar of Deeds office, records all property deeds of ownership, transfers, and related legal documents. These offices keep up-to-date property records, including the current property owner's name. You can typically find a recorder's office in the county courthouse or other county buildings. Some cities even have their own recorder's office, like the San Francisco Deed Recorder. You can visit these offices and use their public computer terminals to conduct your research. The staff is usually available to assist you, and for a small fee, you can obtain copies of registered documents.
Private Online Record Search in California
Several real estate websites gather public ownership data from different sources and offer this information for free. Websites like Realtor, Trulia, and Zillow allow you to search for listed properties in specific areas. Additionally, SearchSystems provides access to free public records from over 70,000 databases. You can search by state, county, city, and zip code, and find information on mortgages, deeds, licenses, business registrations, criminal records, divorce records, marriage records, death records, corporate records, and many other public records. They also offer premium databases for a small fee, allowing for expanded searches nationwide or statewide.
Tricks to Track Down California Commercial Property Owners
Finding owners of California commercial properties can be more challenging compared to residential properties. Commercial real estate (CRE) owners in California often take the title in different forms, such as corporations, partnerships, LLCs, trusts, or other legal entities. With 58 counties in California maintaining their own systems of property deeds and records, the research can become complex. While some Registrar or Recorder offices provide online search platforms, others require an in-person visit. For example, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder does not allow online public searches, while the San Diego County Clerk's office does.
To find information about legal entities like LLCs, the California Secretary of State's office is a valuable resource. Although the database search may not provide direct answers, it offers information about various business entities, including corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and other business filings. By navigating the Business Entities web page, you can access imaged business entity documents filed with the California Secretary of State, including the most recent Statements of Information. You can search by the LLC's name or entity number.
Another option is to work with a California CRE Brokerage. Commercial Brokerage International (CBI), Commercial Brokers Association (CBA), California Business Properties Association (CBPA), California Association of Business Brokers (CABB), and California Association of Realtors (CAR) are some notable associations that can help you locate commercial property owners.
Alternatively, you can hire a property intelligence company specializing in maintaining large databases of California property owners. Reonomy, LoopNet, PropertyShark, Netroline, and Parcel Quest are a few examples of such companies that provide access to real estate data, including ownership records, sales records, property tax records, permits data, and more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, finding California property owners' information requires some effort, but it is possible with the right approach. Begin by researching local tax assessors' records and property deeds at the county level. If necessary, explore private online record search options. When it comes to commercial properties, you may need to employ additional strategies, such as utilizing the California Secretary of State's database, working with a CRE brokerage, or hiring a property intelligence company. Remember, while online resources can be helpful, personal visits to relevant offices may be necessary due to legal restrictions.