How to Search Los Angeles Property Records

Property records are public, and anyone can search for them. Some of the records you can find are deeds, property addresses, housing types, mortgage details, liens, foreclosures, and more.

To find Los Angeles property records, you can use the following options:

Assessor's Office

You can search for records online using the Los Angeles Assessor Portal. Search by AIN or property address. They even offer a map search.

You can also visit the Assessor's Office in person, located at 500 West Temple Street, Room 320, Los Angeles, CA. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Superior Court

You can also search online using the Los Angeles Superior Court website. You can search using the party's name, filing date, or court case number.

County Recorder's Office

Visit your local county recorder's office and ask for records pertaining to a specific address. You can also provide an owner's name or parcel number for your search.

Los Angeles property taxes are vital to the local and state economy. They pay for schools, public safety, parks & recreation, infrastructure, and county government and municipal salaries. As property values in Los Angeles rise, so do property taxes. If a house is sold much higher than its assessment, the county may raise the taxes upon realizing its revised value. Property values spike at least 6% each year, and property taxes must also go up to satisfy the city's budget.

You can pay your Los Angeles property taxes through the Los Angeles County Property Tax Portal. You can also find a wealth of other information using this website, get copies of bills, see your payment history, and even appeal your assessment.

Assessments

Los Angeles real property is taxed based on its assessed value. The county tax assessor handles property assessments every year. If a property changes hands, the tax assessor will receive a copy of the deed, and it will flag the property for reassessment immediately. Typically, this means the new owners will pay more in taxes. This will also prompt a pro-rated tax bill for the underage.

Appraisals

With new construction, the tax assessor uses a certified appraiser to assess the property and determine its fair market value (FMV) so they can appropriately tax the structure.

Lenders and the courts also hire certified appraisers to value homes in Los Angeles to support loans and probate issues. Individuals may also hire them for estate planning purposes.

Tax Rates

The average property tax rate in Los Angeles is 1.25% of the home's assessed value. However, these rates can vary widely based on where you are located. For example, the average rate in Beverly Hills (90035) is 1.16%, the average rate in Malibu (90263) is 1.12%, Bel Air's (90077) average tax rate is 1.15%, Lancaster's (93534) rate is 1.08%, and Palmdale (93510) and Pomona's (91750) average tax rate is 1.09%.

Exemptions

As taxes in the Los Angeles area rise, homeowners are desperate to find ways to save. Tax exemptions can help if you qualify. Some available tax exemptions in Los Angeles include:

• Homeowners' Exemption - $7,000 reduction in the home's value.
• Disabled Veteran's Exemption - possible property tax reduction of $1,752-$2,629.
• Church Exemption - property owned/leased by a church.
• Religious Exemption - property owned by a church.
• Non-Profit Tax Exemption - charitable organizations only.
• Veteran's Exemption - $4,000 off property taxes.

You must first get a building permit whenever you build a new structure, demolish an old one, or renovate a home. In Los Angeles, the Electronic Permitting and Inspections for the County of Los Angeles (EPIC-LA) makes it easy to accomplish this online. First, create an online account, click the "Apply" button, and complete the form. You may also need to submit supporting documentation like blueprints, contractor details, and material lists. You must also pay the permit fee. The types of permits you can obtain include:

• Express Permit (for small jobs that don't require a review or approval - water heater replacement, HVAC replacement, drain repair, lighting, or electrical work.
• Construction Permit
• Electricity
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Fire Protection
• Elevators and Pressure Valves
• Residential

After approval, your building inspector will review the work in progress. The work must be redone if it does not comply with local laws. After the job is completed, another final inspection is required before sign-off.

Los Angeles has a population of 3.821 million people with 3,675,720 housing units. Roughly 46% of the units are owner-occupied, and the median value of those homes is $783,300. A substantial number of Los Angeles housing units (132,387) are subsidized. The city consists of many various types of housing units, including bungalows, Tudor, Spanish Colonial single-family homes, Craftsman, Art-Deco, Victorian homes, and Georgian Revival. Along with these styles, Los Angeles also has apartments, condos, and Section 8 subsidized housing for low-income families, elderly, and disabled adults. Unfortunately, the California Housing Partnership claims that Los Angeles County has a shortage of 499,430 affordable homes, meaning there are a lot of homeless individuals without anywhere to live.

Real estate in Los Angeles is extremely expensive, with the median price of homes between $1-1.2 million. However, different areas offer a wider range of prices. For example, homes in Long Beach (90712) go for $750,000, houses in Palmdale (93510) can be found as low as $560,000, and properties in Lancaster (93534) can be picked up for $490,000.

The Los Angeles real estate market is growing, with prices increasing year over year (roughly 10% annually). Inventory is limited in Los Angeles due to the high cost of land, strict building codes, limited infrastructure, and buyer's preferences for single-family homes. A good example is Beverly Hills (90035), where inventory is very low and prices are very high. West Hollywood (33004) is in the middle, with moderate price increases and moderate inventory levels. The same can be said for San Fernando Valley (91341).