How to Search for San Francisco Property Records

San Francisco property records are public records; anyone can access them for any reason. The trick is knowing where to find the records you need. They are not stored in one location. Typically, you must hunt around if you use government offices. With a little research, you can easily put your hands on deeds, mortgages, liens, foreclosures, building permits, ownership information, and more. The places to look for San Francisco property records are:

Office of the Assessor/Recorder

The San Francisco Assessor/Recorder's office has a handy online search tool, making it easy for you to find deeds, ownership history, mortgages, liens, and other property-related documents. You can search using the property address, parcel ID, and planning application number or click on an interactive map. The city also has another area on its website where you can access assessed property values and tax information.

SF.Gov

The San Francisco government website also offers a tool where you can search for information about the city's ownership of a piece of property and find related details.

Superior Court of San Francisco

Court property records are also public; you can access them through the Superior Court of San Francisco website. You can find things like liens (judgment/mechanic's), bankruptcies, foreclosures, probate cases with related property, property dispute cases, and other court cases that involve property.

San Francisco property taxes are a significant source of revenue for the city. It pays for schools, road maintenance, public safety, health, transportation, and government salaries. As the city grows and the budget increases, so must property taxes to keep up with the expenses. Anyone who owns property must pay annual property taxes. The San Francisco Treasurer & Tax Collector is the entity that sends out bills and collects payments. You can pay your annual property tax online through the city's tax payment portal, by mail, or in person. Tax bills are mailed out in October. Taxes are due in two installments on November 1st and February 1st.

Assessments

Each year, San Francisco's Office of the Assessor-Recorder conducts property assessments on all property within its jurisdiction to determine the assessed value for property taxes. The city calls it "Secured Property Tax". If a homeowner disagrees with the assessed value, they can contest it by filing an official appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board (AAB). Learn more about the process by consulting the website above.

Appraisals

An appraisal is another way of valuing property. The most common method compares similar properties that have recently sold in the local area. Lenders use appraisals to ensure the value of the property supports the loan. Estate planners and the probate courts also use them.

Tax Rates

San Francisco has an average effective property rate of 1.17143563% of the home's assessed value. It is higher than the national average of 0.99%. San Francisco property taxes are higher and lower than those in other parts of California. Some examples include:

• Alameda County 1.243%
• El Dorado County 1.059%
• Kern County 1.238%
• Marin County 1.137%
• Napa County 1.104%
• Santa Barbara County 1.071%
• Ventura County 1.103%

Exemptions

The city of San Francisco offers certain individuals a break on their property taxes through exemptions. You must apply for the exemption and wait to hear if it is approved. Some of the available exemptions in San Francisco include:

• Homeowner's Exemption
• Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption
• Church Exemption
• Non-Profit Exemption
• Senior Exemption
• Veteran Exemption
• Fishing Exemption

Apply for any of these exemptions through the San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder.

Before beginning any construction or renovation project in San Francisco, you must first obtain a permit. You can do so through the San Francisco Planning Board. They have zoning information, how to obtain a permit, and specific details throughout the process. Permits are required for new construction (both residential and commercial), renovations, and demolition of a structure. Some of the available permits in San Francisco include:

• Building Permit
• Renovation Permit
• Demolition Permit
• Multi-Unit Residential Permit
• Commercial Project Permit
• New Business Permit
• Wireless Permit

Additional permits include those for specific electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. The SF.gov website also has detailed information on commercial and residential permits and can answer many of your questions. Some permits are over the counter (OTC); you can obtain them quickly for small projects. You must submit additional paperwork and pay the permit fee when applying.

Throughout the process, the city of San Francisco requires that the work being performed be inspected to ensure that it complies with local safety and building codes.

The city of San Francisco has a population of 808,988 people. San Francisco is a financial and cultural epicenter of Northern California, with 346,527 total housing units, 329,700 of which are occupied. Thirty-five percent (115,391) are owner-occupied, and 65% (214,309) are renter-occupied. The city is growing, with new jobs created daily, resulting in a housing shortage. The city aims to build 82,000 more homes by 2031. San Francisco has a wide variety of housing unit types, such as group housing rooms (communes, fraternities, sororities, and residential hotels), single-family homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), student housing, senior housing, and apartments. The styles popular in San Francisco include Victorian, Queen Anne, and Art Deco.

The average cost of a home in San Francisco is $1,299,639, which is high compared to other cities around the county. The price also depends on where you live in San Francisco. For example:

• Pacific Heights (94115) $2.2 Million
• Corona Heights (94114) $1,427,895
• Buena Vista (94117) $1,562,729
• Mission District (94103) $888.500
• Outer Sunset (94116) $1.3 Million
• Lower Pacific Heights (94109) $1.2 Million
• Duboce Triangle (94103) $1,291,195
• Lower Haight (94102) $1,173,806
• Mint Hill (94110) $957,841
• Alamo Square (94115) $1,091,955
• Hayes Valley (94117) $1,005,745
• Castro (94110) $1,393,548
• Mission Dolores (94114) $1,084,684

The median list price of houses in San Francisco is $1,196,000, and they stay on the market for an average of 16 days. More than 50% sell for over list price. The average price per square foot is $893. Most sales receive at least four offers.