Did you know? We now offer RECORDED DOCUMENTS!

Recorded Documents

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In this video tutorial, we’ll go over how to find and order a recorded document.

• There are two ways you can find a link to a recorded document. The first way is by looking up a particular parcel or some kind of general search to get a list of results.
• For this example, let’s look for a subject parcel in El Dorado County and find its corresponding document.
• The one we’re interested in is in the Sale2 column. When we click on the document link, a prompt comes up asking for password verification since this will result in a $5 charge to your account. At this point, you can either enter your password to download and view the document or click Cancel to go back.
• Let’s go back for now and instead click on the Sale1 document link, which will go right to the download prompt since it’s one I purchased earlier.
• Now we can open or save the file as a PDF. Let’s go ahead and open it so you can see an example of what a recorded document looks like.
• Another place you can go to access recently purchased documents is through the News&Preferences link in the My Account menu. Here you can see all the relevant information for your downloaded documents and have a quick way to link back to them.
• The second way you can get to a document is by searching for the document number directly. Let’s search for our previously purchased document in El Dorado County.
• First, verify your county, then open the Sales section and enter the doc number in the box. For this example, we get more than one result but don’t panic because often times counties will reuse document numbers over the years.
• Once you are viewing the results, this is where you would need the specific parcel number or address to locate the correct doc number. Then just click the appropriate APN and there’s our document.

Thanks for watching!

Use Code v. Use Type

Use Code vs Use Type

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In this video tutorial, we’ll explore the differences and purposes of the use code and use type fields.

•  The main difference between the two are that the use code comes directly from the Assessor’s office whereas the use type is a field that ParcelQuest created through a standardized process.
• This process involved looking at all use codes for each county and grouping them based on common descriptions.
• The purpose of the use type field is to allow you to search for properties based on a general category instead of having to look up specific use codes.
• For example, in Sacramento County, if you wanted to search for agricultural property by use code, you would have over 20 different codes to choose from. On the other hand, if you chose the use type field, you would simply click on the Agricultural option in the search list and be able to search them all at once.
• Now, that being said, you can still take the use code route and click the See Table link to view the use code list for a selected county. Then you can enter one code, a range of codes, or multiple codes separated by a comma to specify your search.

So whether you want general use types or specific use codes, with ParcelQuest, you have options. Thanks for watching!

Why did my property tax bill increase so dramatically?

Why did my property taxes increase so much this year? This is a question a lot of us could be asking when we open our property tax bill based on the latest assessment this fall. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so simple – but we’ll do our best to break it down…….

Information from the Department of Industrial Relations shows that the CCPI (California Consumer Price Index) increased 3.81 percent. Because of Prop-13 however, property assessment increases are limited to +2 percent annually regardless of how much the market increases.

Chart 1 lists the value change percentages used by California County Assessors since 1999/2000:

So what does this mean in terms of property tax increases? For many homeowners, property taxes will increase 2% over last year – regardless of market value changes. For Californians who have owned and occupied the same home for several years without any construction modifications, this isn’t necessarily NEW news. They’ve come to expect a moderate increase in their property taxes each year, and unless Prop-13 changes or goes away, they’ve no reason to expect anything different in the near-term. However, for the majority of Californians who have purchased their home in the past 7-10 years, our ‘near-term’ might look very different in terms of our property tax bill increases – and it has everything to do with a long-forgotten Prop-8.

Passed in 1978, Prop-8 requires a reduction in assessed value if “the property’s value has been reduced by ‘other factors’ such as economic conditions.” Put simply, Prop 8 allows for the temporary lowering of the assessed value of properties whose market value falls below their Prop 13 value. As a result of the historic decline of the housing market in recent years, county assessors throughout California have moved a large majority of our homes from Prop-13 to Prop-8 status (e.g., More than half of all parcels in Sacramento County are Prop-8). What does this mean? For those of us with a Prop 8 status, it means that our property tax bills are no longer calculated based on a moderately increasing Prop-13 base year value trend, but rather based on our property’s current market value. If you’re in this boat, you’ve likely enjoyed a minimal, or even drastic, decline in your property tax bill in the last few years. However, if the revival of the housing market continues (and many analysts predict it should), we could be staring down large increases to our property tax bills for years to come.

I know you’re probably thinking “I thought my property taxes couldn’t increase by more than +2%?” This would be true for a home assessed under Prop-13 , but Prop-8 parcels are tied directly to fluctuations in the real estate market which can adjust up or down much more radically and without limit. As long as a parcel remains in Prop-8 status, property taxes for that parcel are based on market values that can exhibit much more erratic behavior and increase at a rate much greater than +2%. Keep in mind also that a parcel’s Prop-13 base year value trend line never ‘goes away’. In fact, it continues to ‘trudge’ along in the background, increasing by the CCPI each year, while the parcel remains in Prop-8 status.

Chart 2 provides a common example of a new home purchased in late 2004 for a price of $475,000. Although the market value of the home during the first three (3) years increased at rates of +5.3%, +7.0% and +1.9%, respectively – property taxes were calculated against the Prop-13 trend line that prevented increases from exceeding +2% per year. In 2007 however, the housing market began its steady decline, and consistent with California law the county assessor moved the home from Prop-13 to Prop-8 status. Property taxes for this particular home then are no longer calculated against current Prop-13 base year value, but against the current Prop-8/Market Value. As a result, property tax bills also began to steadily decrease. However, as the market value of this home grows, so will its property tax bill – likely at a yearly rate much greater than +2% as long as it remains in Prop-8. So where’s the ceiling? Remember the Prop-13 base year value trend line hanging around in the background? That’s the ceiling. In the case of the home exemplified in Chart 2, that ceiling is currently $547,716 – the likely value of the home had the market never fallen and +$174,716 greater than current market value.

As long as this particular home’s market value remains below the Prop-13 base year trend line, the county assessor will likely retain Prop-8 status. While homeowners with homes that are assessed under Prop-8 can take solace in slowly regaining lost equity, larger (than historical) increases to their property tax bills can also be expected – at least until market value catches up and the home is moved back to Prop-13 status.

For more information, please contact your local California County Assessor.

Your ParcelQuest Support Menu

Support Menu Walkthrough

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In this video tutorial, we’ll take a quick look at the Support menu so you can get a better idea of some items that can help answer questions and provide more information about working with our data.

• The Tutorial Library offers some video walkthroughs of ParcelQuest’s basic functions and features.
• The Navigator and Data User Guides give a detailed look at our service using screenshots, search examples and various feature details.
• The MapEdge and PQMaps User Guides provide a breakdown of the different parcel map functions for each viewer.
• If your map viewing preference is set to PQMaps, you can click the Download PQMaps link to ensure you have the most recent version installed.
• The Data and Maps Troubleshooting pages are designed to help answer more common support questions and walk you through possible solutions.
• Our Coverage Map shows how often we receive data from each county as well as the last time the website was updated.
• Sample Data Sheets will give you a comprehensive look at each county and show what fields we receive from each one.
• Our Field Definitions page provides a handy look up for descriptions of each property data field.
• The Use Codes page is an easy way to reference a list of each county’s property use codes.
• Use the Help Us Improve link to generate a feedback email where you can include questions, comments, or suggestions for all things ParcelQuest.   

So, there’s the ParcelQuest Support menu in a nutshell. Also, please feel free to give us a call anytime you have questions or need help with our site by calling 888-217-8999. Thanks for watching!

Reading a Parcel Map

ReadParcelMaps

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In this video tutorial, we’ll take an in-depth look at all things parcel maps and cover how to find a certain parcel, different types of parcel maps, various labels and notes, and basically how to figure these things out.

 Breaking Down an APN

• First let’s look at how to break down an APN or Assessor’s Parcel Number. The most common APN format would be a number like 025-132-005. The book number is 025 and the page number in the book is 13. The block number follows the page number and in this example is 2. If there is only one block on the map, however, the number will be 0. Finally, the last number is the specific parcel number, which is 005.

 Figuring Out APNs on a Parcel Map

• Now let’s look at how to figure out a full APN by finding a single parcel on a map page. In this example, we will use the Butte County parcel map for book 1, page 1, and find the APN for parcel 17 in block 14.
• Since this is Butte County, the standard format is a three-digit book, two-digit page number followed by a block number, and a three-digit parcel number. So, the full APN is 001-014-017.

 Different Types of Parcel Maps

• Next we have the different types of parcel maps you may come across. First there is the countywide index map, which shows where all of the map books are located for a particular county. Here is the index map for Butte County. Now let’s go down a level and look at the index map for book 026.
• Here is a book index map, which shows where all of the map pages are located within a particular map book. Let’s go down one more level and look at the parcel map for page 27.
• Finally we have a specific parcel map, which shows where all of the parcels are located within a particular map page.

 Various Map Annotations

• Now let’s move on to the various numbers, lines, notes and other items you may find on a parcel map. This time we’ll check out a map in Tuolumne County.
• Numbers of Importance: The first numbers of importance are the book and page number, which are usually located in the upper-right corner of the map. The first number is the map book which is followed by the map page. Parcel numbers are located within their corresponding parcel boundaries and are usually circled. Block numbers are generally located in the center of a parcel group and are circled with an ellipse. Also within the parcel boundary is the lot number.
• Orientation & Scale: Maps are generally oriented to the north and you can tell this by looking at the arrow in the upper right corner of the map. This is also where you will usually find the scale, which gives you the ratio in inches to feet. The most common scale is 1” = 100’ but you will see several other variations depending on the county and map book. Here are some examples.
• Measurements: Most counties will include the estimated total area in acres for each parcel on the map. Otherwise, the total area may not be displayed, it may only show for certain parcels or it may be listed as total square feet. You will also sometimes see the length of one or more parcel edges measured in feet.
• Lot Lines: Typically lot lines match up with the solid lines of existing parcel boundaries but if a lot line differs or there is more than one lot in a parcel, this will be shown as a dotted line.
• Adjacent Parcel Maps: If you would like to see which parcels are located on an adjacent parcel map, the page or book and page of the map will be noted at the edge of the current map.
• Section, Township & Range: If you are interested in knowing the particular section, township, and range where a parcel is located, this information is usually found at the top of the map. For this map in Tuolumne County, we are looking at a portion of the north half of Section 36, Township 2 North, and Range 14 East of the Mount Diablo Base & Meridian.
• Map Revisions: As parcel changes occur, these have to be updated on current parcel maps. When a county mapper makes a revision, a record of this revision will usually appear somewhere around the border of the map.

 Single Sheet vs. Multi-sheet Map Pages

• The last item we will look at is single sheet vs. multi-sheet map pages.
• Most map pages consist of a single sheet but if you are unable to find a particular parcel on a map page, it may be that the page consists of multiple sheets. There should be a notation near the book and page number that tells you which sheet you are looking at and/or how many sheets there are total.
• To view the subsequent map sheets, click on the single arrow button pointing to the right in the map viewer toolbar.

So, I know that was a lot of information and your head may or may not be spinning but I hope this tutorial has helped broaden your understanding of the world of parcel maps. Thanks for watching!

San Joaquin County Secured Tax Roll Declines slowing for 2012-2013 Closed Roll Period

Consistent with property market value stabilization in San Joaquin County, the overall assessed value of secured parcels has dropped just -0.5% (-$231 million) in the current roll period. However, the ‘damage’ has certainly been done as the current value of San Joaquin County’s secured tax roll stands at $49.726 billion in the current 2012-2013 close roll period – nearly $4 billion less than it was at the close of the 2008-2009 tax roll period as the combination of sluggish home-sales and lack of new construction continue to challenge growth. This is disturbing news for various cities and districts that largely depend on increases in property tax revenue to fund new development projects.

Representing nearly a third (32.5%) of San Joaquin County’s tax roll, the city of Stockton continues to drive the majority of the county’s secured tax roll decline as the overall value of Stockton’s secured tax roll dropped -$283 million for the current closed roll period versus last year and now stands at $16.137 billion. The cities of Tracy (-$72 million, -1.1%) and Lathrop (-$54 million, -3.1$) are also showing secured tax roll declines while Manteca (+$7.2 million) and Lodi (+$229k) are showing modest increases.

Although San Joaquin County’s secured tax roll declines have slowed, the shifting of secured parcels from Prop-13 to Prop-8 has created a greater level of instability. While Prop-13 restricts growth of a parcel’s assessed value to 2% annually unless a change in ownership occurs, Prop-8 parcels are tied to fluctuations in the real estate market and can, as a result, adjust up or down much more radically and without limit. Currently, 44% of San Joaquin County’s secured assessed values are driven by Prop-8 parcels. This is a dramatic shift from the 2008-2009 closed roll period when Prop-8 parcels comprised only 36.9% of the county’s total assessed parcel values.

The city of Stockton also continues to experience a shifting of parcels from Prop-13 to Prop-8 status as the overall value of Prop-8 secured assessments now stands at $8.062 billion, up from $7.572 billion a year ago. Prop-8 parcels now represent 50% of Stockton’s tax roll, compared to 46% a year ago and 39% in 2010. In the city of Tracy (which accounts for 13.4% of San Joaquin County’s overall secured tax roll value), Prop-8 parcel assessments stand at $4.1 billion while representing a majority (62.7%) of Tracy’s overall tax roll. Prop-8 assessments account for 57.8% of Manteca’s secured roll, 49.3% of Lathrop’s secured roll, and just 37.3% of Lodi’s secured tax roll.

 

How to use MapEdge

MapEdge

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In this video tutorial, we’ll take a quick overview of our online parcel map viewing program, MapEdge. Please note that in order to access this viewer, you need to be using Internet Explorer as your browser.

• When the map first opens, the default selected tool is Zoom to Rectangle. This allows you to left click and drag over an area to enlarge it. You can then left click to display the full map again.
• Now let’s look at the measure tool. First we need to determine the map scale, which can usually be found in the upper-right corner of the map. The default scale of the measure tool is 1” = 100’ so if the map is the same, there is nothing to change. If the map scale is different, however, we can change the measuring scale by doing a right click and then choose Change Map Scale.
• Next we’ll zoom in to our subject area and then click the Measure button. Now just left click at each corner or point around the perimeter of the parcel and not only will you get the distance of each side of the parcel, but once you click back where you started, you will also see the area in both square feet and acres.
• Some other items you can add to the parcel map in order to bring attention to a certain area are highlights and arrow stamps.
• We also have a tool that allows you to include text on the map.

So now let’s say you are done working with the map and you’d like to save any changes before closing it. There are three different options for what you can do:

• You can either save the map to your computer as a bitmap
• Copy it to the Clipboard and paste it somewhere else, or
• Send it to the printer for a hard copy

One other navigation item I want to point out as we wrap up is maps that contain multiple sheets. You may be looking for a certain parcel that doesn’t appear to be on the current map, only to find out that it’s located on a subsequent map sheet. If a map page has one or more map sheets, you will see the Next Sheet button activated. Then you can use this button along with the Previous Sheet button to track down that sneaky parcel.

Finally, don’t forget to make use of the MapEdge user guide by clicking the Online Help button. I would recommend going over this manual when you have a moment since there are additional features that we didn’t have time to look at.

Thanks for watching!