Frequently Asked Questions

Buyer FAQs

  • Yes! Currently in the Southern California market, if you plan on buying a home with a loan, a ‘pre-qualification’ letter from a lender is needed in order for an offer to be taken seriously. It is highly recommended you get ‘pre-qualified’ before you even begin to start looking at homes. A mortgage professional will advise and prepare you for the mortgage application process making the home-buying process that much more efficient and hopefully less stressful.

    If you would like to take it a few steps further and make your offer that much stronger, you can choose to get a ‘pre-approval’. Although a ‘pre-approval’ is not typically necessary, it may be a good idea simply to ensure that there are no surprises when it’s time for your loan to fund as well as the ability to compete with all-cash offers.

    If you are thinking about buying a home in Los Angeles, speak to a mortgage professional as soon as possible so you can get ‘pre-qualified’!

  • If you’re having trouble determining how much you can afford to spend on a home, ask your realtor to assist you. Your realtor can help you set an overall budget before beginning your home search, so you can feel confident that you can afford your monthly expenses, avoid financial problems down the road and find a home that you’ll love.

    While you may have toyed with mortgage calculators and jotted down estimated payments, you’ll be able to get a more accurate and personal assessment by working with a trusted mortgage professional.

    Your realtor should be able to provide you with a list of recommended mortgage professionals that you, or they, can contact to get a realistic number.

  • One of the most common ways first-time homebuyers approach the matter of affordability is to save up for a specified down payment — the amount of which ultimately guides the parameters of their search.

    Mortgage lenders provide countless calculators with varying estimated payment options. Because these tools are generalized, be sure your realtor presents you with location-specific home insurance and tax data. See if they’re able to provide you with likely utility figures and a home improvement budget as well if possible. Homebuyers with the big picture in mind are less likely to bite off more than they can chew financially.

  • Realtor fees — also known as commission — are part of almost every real estate transaction. Although historically buyers aren’t responsible for paying their realtor’s fee, the realtor’s compensation is negotiable. It’s quite common to see realtor fees wrapped up in the seller's closing costs.

    A buyer's representing agent is often compensated at the close of escrow. It’s common for the realtor fee to be paid by the seller to the listing broker who, in turn, shares part of it with the agent who brings a buyer to the table. They receive a commission represented as a percentage of the sale as specified in the purchase contract. Historically, it’s been very common for the commission of the buyer's agent to be paid by the seller. As a result, it’s also quite common for there to be no cost associated with working with an agent/realtor as a buyer. It’s important to remember that an agent’s fee is negotiable, however, and not every seller agrees to pay the commission to both the listing agent, as well as the buyer’s agent.

  • In California, the buyer and seller may be represented by the same agent.

    Yes, it may help you get your offer accepted but you should ask yourself one question: Is the agent representing your interests, the sellers’ interests, or their own?

    Inadvertently, it's possible you and your interests may not be protected as well as they could be and as a result, the best possible deal may not be negotiated in your favor.

  • Unless you have a reason to be familiar with tax laws, you are probably wondering, "What is FIRPTA?". FIRPTA stands for Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act. It is a tax law that ensures foreign taxpayers pay income tax on their sale of US real estate.

    Why Was FIRPTA Created?

    For domestic citizens, capital gains tax money is taken out of their regular income tax. In contrast, foreign persons are taxed only on certain items of income and are not taxed on most capital gains items, including real estate. This being the case, FIRPTA was put into place to ensure that the government gets its piece of the pie when a foreign person living in the US sells real estate. It applies to almost any sale where a foreign owner of a US property sells said property.

    Federal Withholdings:

    To ensure the taxes are collected, buyers of real estate that fall under this tax act are required to withhold 10% of the sales price from the seller and deposit it with the IRS. This 10% deposit is applied to taxes owed on the sale (or transfer) of the property. If the actual taxes are calculated to be less than 10% of the sales price, the seller will receive a refund for the difference. If no taxes were owed, the entire deposit is refunded to the seller.

    State Withholdings:

    Separate from the federal withholding requirements of FIRPTA, some states require buyers to withhold an additional amount to cover taxes that may be owed by sellers, even if the sellers are US citizens who reside in that state. For example, California requires that 3 1/3% of the sales price be withheld by buyers and deposited with the state's Franchise Tax Board, whether the seller is or is not a Californian resident. Just like the federal deposits, the seller receives a refund if taxes owed turn out to be less than the amount withheld.

    Exemptions to the Rule:

    If one or more of these circumstances apply, a seller may be exempt from this law:

    1) The sales price is less than $300,000 and the buyer has definite plans to reside in the home for at least 50% of the first 24 months that the property is being used by any person.

    2) The seller provides written certification that they are not a foreign person.

    3) The buyer receives a withholding certificate from the IRS that excuses the withholding.

    4) The amount the seller realizes on the sale or transfer of the property interest is zero.

  • A good rule of thumb is 2-5% of the purchase price, yet home buyers should always ask their lender for a copy of their HUD-1 statement, which will give them the final breakdown of costs associated with buying their home.

    Real estate agents who are familiar with titles and escrow are well-equipped to advise first-time clients on the ins and outs of origination and deed recording fees.

    Good agents also know that lenders will collect interest for the current month at closing. By setting the closing date later in the month, your clients can reduce the amount of interest collected. Closing at the beginning of the month means they’ll be paying the full month of interest while closing towards the end of the month means paying just a fraction of that cost.

  • The contingency removal date is the date defined in the offer when the buyer will remove contingencies and commit to a firm intent to close escrow. Standard real estate contingencies typically include the right to 1) Review Title’, 2) Inspect the property’ and 3) Review the seller's disclosure packet.

    What’s the importance of the contingency removal date?

    When a buyer and seller agree on an offer, the buyer effectively has an option to purchase the property, subject to their satisfaction of various contingencies. Once the buyer removes contingencies through the delivery of a contingency removal form in California, the option turns into a binding commitment.

    Contract attorneys often point out that an offer to purchase real estate isn't literally an option. Though they are right, in practice, an offer very much resembles an option. For this reason, the shorter the contingency period, the better for the seller because the sale has the opportunity to move forward more quickly. Conversely, the longer the contingency period, the better for the buyer because they have more time to make sure the house they're pursuing is a good fit for them.

    The contingency removal date is typically 17 days from acceptance. Acceptance occurs on the date that the buyer and seller agree on offer terms, contingencies included. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, there are a number of different contingencies that are present in most real estate offers. 1) One of the most common is called a loan contingency. This is the clause that states your buyer's offer is contingent on being able to secure financing for your house. It's quite common for a loan contingency to extend beyond than 17 days and for it to have a separate removal date.

    If certain criteria are met, it's also possible to have a contingency period that's less than 17 days.

    You can have a shorter contingency period if:

    ・The seller completes all disclosures prior to listing.

    ・The seller has a general home inspection prior to listing.

    ・The seller shares a completed disclosure packet and an inspection report with the buyer before the buyer submits an offer.

    In California, the contingency removal date itself is not what actually removes contingencies. Rather, it's a buyer's submission of the contingency removal form. If the contingency removal date is March 1, 2015, and no form has been submitted, that day can come and go and contingencies will still exist. Contingencies will only be removed when the buyer submits the removal form; and that can happen before, on, or after the removal date. Once the removal form is submitted, the sale can move forward.

    Essentially, in California, the removal date can be thought of as the deadline for the buyer to submit the removal form. If the buyer fails to submit the form by the date outlined in the contract, then the seller can take steps related to a buyer breach. This can include serving a notice to perform or seeking to cancel escrow.

  • An appraisal contingency is a standard real estate contingency in any offer drawn up for any buyer who needs to obtain a loan to purchase a home. It gives the buyer the right to cancel escrow without penalty if the bank appraiser determines the price of the home to be worth less than the purchase price.

    It is somewhat rare for a bank appraiser to determine that a home is worth less than the purchase price. Usually, the appraisal comes in at exactly the purchase price because appraisers view what a buyer is willing to pay as great evidence of what a home is worth. Nonetheless, appraisals do sometimes come in low.

    The Appraisal is Low - What Happens Next?

    If the appraisal comes in at less than the purchase price, that does not necessarily mean that the sale is going to fall apart. If the buyer has the means to do so, they can pay the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price in cash and still obtain the loan.  In this case, the cash down payment for the buyer increases to cover the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price.

    Is There Any Reason to Remove The Appraisal Contingency?

    Most buyers obtaining a loan view this contingency as vital and will not proceed without it. Only in rare circumstances does the contingency present a problem for the seller. That being said, if a seller wants to enter escrow with a buyer who is obtaining a loan, it is usually best to allow both this contingency.

  • All offers in California require the seller to provide a natural hazard disclosure report.

    This report, which is mandated by California state law, tells the buyer if the home they are purchasing lies within a zone containing any one of six types of hazards, including:

    - A Special Flood Hazard Area

    - Dam Inundation

    - Very High Fire

    - Wildland fire

    - Earthquake fault zone

    - Seismic hazard

    It's a straightforward one-page form, containing several yes-or-no questions about the property. On the disclosure form, the seller must indicate whether or not each threat applies to the property. The form costs approximately $125, a fee that's usually paid by the seller at the close of escrow.

    Supplemental Hazards are also commonly reported in the same report.

    These include:

    1. Radon Gas exposure

    2. Airport influence area

    3. Megan's Law disclosures

    4. Military ordinance

  • Deposit your earnest money with escrow within  3 days of the date of contract acceptance/ratification date. Your Escrow Officer will provide you with wiring instructions once escrow has officially been opened.

  • There is generally no language explicitly preventing the buyer from changing things up. Most contracts do specify that buyers have a specific time period within which they have to get financing and perform. As long as the buyer can secure financing within the timeframe specified in their contract there will be no consequences for switching. It should be mentioned that it can be challenging to switch lenders during escrow under typical contract deadlines and should be discussed with their Realtor in advance.

  • You will need a homeowner’s insurance policy in place before settlement, it is a good idea to start looking around in advance. Obtaining homeowner’s insurance is typically a requirement of the lender in order to secure financing.

  • Buyers with a home improvement vision or a commitment toward sustainable living may want to update major features before moving in.

    If energy efficiency is their thing, consider searching properties with old windows, appliances, or a sketchy boiler system.

    Switching to eco-friendly models as a best-interest scenario for the buyer is the perfect impetus to ask for reasonable financial compensation instead of holding the seller responsible for repairs. Whatever can be conceived as a win-win concession proposal improves chances for a satisfactory sale all around.

  • While most buyers know they need a traditional home inspection, where items like the electrical, HVAC, and plumbing will be inspected, a great agent will know to advise them of other types of inspections that may be standard in your local area.

    A wood-destroying organism inspection, for example, looks for termite infestation and damage. They may also need a chimney, lead-based paint, foundation, pool, septic system, soil stability, or easement inspection.

  • You will need to contact a local Home Inspector to schedule your inspection prior to your inspection deadline. Here is a list of our preferred vendors for your reference - but you are welcome to use any company you'd like!

    If you are unclear on which inspections to schedule, your realtor can help you decide and also clarify what is stated in your contract.

  • Parameters for finding information about the condition of any property should be clearly defined. Identify who arranges home inspections at the get-go, as well as whether or not they can be completed before an offer is made.

    Results of inspections that take place after both parties sign an agreement may alter the original terms. Make sure bids are contingent upon relevant findings and a time limit is set within which down payment amounts may be returned if homebuyers change their minds.

    Agree, in advance, who will be present during all home and pest inspections as well as which party is responsible for service payment. If possible, compile a list of area providers known for thorough and quality work.

  • Most contracts revolve around closing dates within 30-45 days of signing. Loan pre-approval, satisfactory completion of the home and pest inspections, and mutual contingency agreement all move the timetable along quickly.

  • Examine the homeowner’s situation.

    1) Are they motivated to sell? Is the house listed as-is?

    2) Do they sit in a position where they can comfortably wait for a competitive offer?

    Next, look at comparable market data.

    3) Is the property in question on the high or low end of area home values? If demand is great, consider presenting as attractive an offer as possible, such as cash only or one that agrees to limit contingencies.

    Informed bids based on a combination of factors such as research data, market trends, and the motivations of both buyer and seller have the highest chance of being accepted.

    We all know this is a tough one to answer, but it’s arguably the most important question in the entire transaction. There are so many factors to consider. Your realtor can help you evaluate and understand the difference between reasonable offers, competitive offers, and the right offers – all of which can be different.

    Many home buyers believe that they should immediately lowball an offer; however, this may not be reasonable. A reasonable offer is one that carefully considers market data, how the property compares to others that have sold, and the buyers’ overall desire for the property.

    A competitive offer, on the other hand, often means taking it a step further and considering other terms, in addition to price, that may give the buyers a leading edge. For example, can they make an all-cash offer? Can they include a full loan approval letter with their offer? Perhaps they can limit the number of contingencies in the offer or can close quickly with a sizeable earnest money deposit.

    Making the right offer is not an emotional decision – rather, one that is based on research and market data. Your realtor will provide you with comparable data, show the competition, and discuss the current market’s temperature. Your agent will provide you with expertise and guide you so that you’re able to make the most knowledgeable and informed decision possible.

  • You’ve found the house you love – but so have three other buyers. When faced with a multiple- offer situation, today’s great agents know how to make their client’s offer stand out. It’s important to remember that the listing agent needs to be the readiest, most willing, and most able buyer to purchase the seller’s house, but they also need to make sure the deal is going to stick. Great agents help their clients give the impression that if their offer is accepted, the seller will soon see the closing table.

    Perhaps this means scheduling an inspection prior to placing an offer, giving your clients more knowledge of the home, and making it easier to waive inspection contingencies. One of the best ways to communicate that your client’s offer has a better chance of sticking than the competition is to improve its terms and limit its complexity. Offer more money down, attach a pre-qualification letter, and shorten the due diligence period. We’ve even heard of buyers writing letters to the sellers expressing their interest in the house, their plans, and how much their kids will love the treehouse out back.

    Walk your clients through a multiple-offer situation all the way to the closing table by thinking outside the box.

Seller FAQs

  • It's a straightforward one-page form, containing several yes-or-no questions about your property. On the disclosure form, you must indicate whether or not each threat applies to your property. The form costs approximately $125, a fee that's usually paid by the seller at the close of escrow.

    Supplemental Hazards are also commonly reported in the same report.

    These include:

    1. Radon Gas exposure

    2. Airport influence area

    3. Megan's Law disclosures

    4. Military ordinance

  • An HOA transfer fee is one of many fees involved in a home sale transaction. Sometimes referred to as ‘HOA document preparation fees’, The HOA Transfer Fee covers any costs the Homeowner's Association incurs to update internal documents with the new owner's information and to distribute various HOA documents to the buyer. These documents typically include any governing covenants, convictions and restrictions, rules and regulations, financial statements, amendments, and property defects.

    HOA transfer fees are typically $500 or less and are almost always paid by the seller.

  • Unless you have a reason to be familiar with tax laws, you are probably wondering, "What is FIRPTA?". FIRPTA stands for Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act. It is a tax law that ensures foreign taxpayers pay income tax on their sale of US real estate.

    Why Was FIRPTA Created?

    For domestic citizens, capital gains tax money is taken out of your regular income tax. In contrast, foreign persons are taxed only on certain items of income and are not taxed on most capital gains items, including real estate. This being the case, FIRPTA was put into place to ensure that the government gets its piece of the pie when a foreign person living in the US sells real estate. It applies to almost any sale where a foreign owner of a US property sells said property.

    Federal Withholdings:

    To ensure the taxes are collected, buyers of real estate that fall under this tax act are required to withhold 10% of the sales price from the seller and deposit it with the IRS. This 10% deposit is applied to taxes owed on the sale (or transfer) of the property. If the actual taxes are calculated to be less than 10% of the sales price, the seller will receive a refund for the difference. If no taxes were owed, the entire deposit is refunded to the seller.

    State Withholdings:

    Separate from the federal withholding requirements of FIRPTA, some states require buyers to withhold an additional amount to cover taxes that may be owed by sellers, even if the sellers are US citizens who reside in that state. For example, California requires that 3 1/3% of the sales price be withheld by buyers and deposited with the state's Franchise Tax Board, whether the seller is or is not a Californian resident. Just like the federal deposits, the seller receives a refund if taxes owed turn out to be less than the amount withheld.

    Exemptions to the Rule:

    If one or more of these circumstances apply, a seller may be exempt from this law:

    1) The sales price is less than $300,000 and the buyer has definite plans to reside in the home for at least 50% of the first 24 months that the property is being used by any person.

    2) The seller provides written certification that they are not a foreign person.

    3) The buyer receives a withholding certificate from the IRS that excuses the withholding.

    4) The amount the seller realizes on the sale or transfer of the property interest is zero.

Escrow FAQs

  • The process, in which a disinterested third person (a stakeholder) holds money and/or documents until the satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the escrow instructions (as prepared by the parties to the escrow) has been achieved. Once these terms have been satisfied, delivery and transfer of the escrow-ed funds and documents take place. (Escrow should not be confused with closings.) A valid escrow is set up when a binding and enforceable contract of sale has been deposited with the escrow holder along with a fully executed deed. The escrow holder acts as a fiduciary and retains documents and entrusted assets until specified conditions are fulfilled. The holder is the special and impartial agent for both parties and acts according to the escrow instructions given by both. Depositors have no control over the documents after they are deposited into escrow, so the death or incapacity of one of the parties to the escrow does not terminate the escrow. Upon performance of the descendant's part of the contract, the other party is entitled to have escrow concluded according to the terms of the contract. In closing a real estate transaction, the escrow company may perform such duties as paying liens, computing prorations, ordering title evidence, having new documents prepared, drawing up closing statements, obtaining necessary signatures, recording documents, and receiving and distributing funds. For tips & mistakes to avoid during escrow download this document from dre.ca.gov.

  • The length or term of an escrow is largely determined by the mutual agreement of the parties to the escrow. The number of days it will take to complete the escrow and/or the target closing date is indicated in the purchase contract and escrow instructions. Sometimes, the closing of an escrow can be delayed by the time it takes to approve and underwrite the loan if a lender is involved and new financing is being obtained by a buyer or borrower. Also, an escrow may not close on time as a result of unexpected circumstances, documents that have not been signed, or disputes between the parties. For tips & mistakes to avoid during escrow download this document from dre.ca.gov.

  • The term "funding" usually refers to when your lender actually “funds” (provides the money to finance) your loan. The funding of a loan will occur only after all of the lender's conditions have been satisfied and escrow has requested funding from your lender. The escrow officer will work with the lender, as well as the mortgage broker if there is one, to ensure that the loan funds are in accordance with the lender's instructions and the contractual timeline of the escrow. Please note that even when all of the lender's conditions and requirements have been satisfied, the escrow officer will not authorize funding until all of the required conditions of the escrow have been met. For tips & mistakes to avoid during escrow download this document from dre.ca.gov.

  • The term "recording" signifies when the title company has released all of the documents which must be recorded to the County where the property is located and those documents have been recorded (usually by the office of the County Recorder). Unless there are unexpected problems or delays either in escrow or title or both, it is only after the escrow officer determines that all of the conditions of the escrow have been met that they in turn authorize title to record the documents. "Recording" is also sometimes used interchangeably with "closing." It is typical that when a loan funds, the recording will take place the following business day. However, there are Counties that perform same-day recordings, where the recording takes place on the same day that the loan funds. For tips & mistakes to avoid during escrow download this document from dre.ca.gov.

Appraisal FAQs

  • It might seem simple, but first-time home buyers often misunderstand what an appraisal is and how it impacts the home-buying process. Appraisals are the credible opinions of the value of a home based on thorough and unbiased research and analysis. They are meant to reflect the market value of a property, which is not always the sale price. In many cases, an appraisal may help prevent a buyer from overpaying for a home. Though other valuation methods exist, appraisals will give you the most objective and impartial opinion of value and are required for all real estate transactions with loans involving $250,000 or more from federally-insured financial institutions.

  • An appraiser is an independent and impartial professional who is licensed or certified in the state he or she works. Qualified appraisers have gone through extensive education and testing and have significant experience in the field. He or she must comply with any state regulatory statutes and abide by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), the congressionally-authorized standards for real estate appraisers in the United States developed by The Appraisal Foundation. They are also required to complete continuing education courses to ensure that they’re aware of changes in valuation methods and techniques, technology, and the marketplace. As you can see, there is significant training and expertise involved.

  • It’s important to remember that appraisals do not set the sale price of a home. Rather, the job of an appraiser is to come up with a reliable and credible opinion of the value of a home. They are trained to assess a wide range of factors that affect a home’s value, including its size, location, condition, age, quality, and more. Appraisers assess these factors in relation to recent sales of comparable properties to arrive at the most accurate and objective opinion of value.

  • When examining your final appraisal report, it’s important for you to take an objective approach. Even if you are disappointed with the appraisal you receive, you may not have a credible complaint. However, there are a few clear signs that point to an incomplete or inaccurate appraisal. If the data provided is incomplete or there are major omissions, then you may have a case. For instance, if an appraiser does not document the second bathroom in your home, that would be a major issue. Other signs of a flawed appraisal include the use of non-applicable comparable sales and/or vague descriptions in the appraisal report.

    If you do deem the appraisal to be inaccurate, you should notify your lender immediately. If there are major errors or you suspect unethical behavior, you should file a formal complaint with the appraisal regulatory agency in your state or through the Appraisal Subcommittee’s Appraisal Complaint National Hotline at refermyappraisalcomplaint.asc.gov/. Understanding the role of an appraisal is critical when purchasing any home, especially your first.

    https://appraisalfoundation.org

Inspection FAQs

  • While most buyers know they need a traditional home inspection, where items like the electrical, HVAC, and plumbing will be inspected, a great agent will know to advise them of other types of inspections that may be standard in your local area.

    A wood-destroying organism inspection, for example, looks for termite infestation and damage. They may also need a chimney, lead-based paint, foundation, pool, septic system, soil stability, or easement inspection.

  • Generally, if something is broken or defective, safety-related, or not working efficiently/properly the buyer and their agent should seek a remedy. A few examples include:

    · Smoke, carbon monoxide, and radon systems (if radon fails inspection)

    · Broken appliances

    · Leaks of any kind

    · Electrical faults, hot panels, and incorrect wiring

    · Broken or missing door and window locks

    · Faulty garage door sensors

    ** Objective and impartial opinions of value are required for all real estate transactions with loans involving $250,000 or more from federally-insured financial institutions.

  • This is a negotiation. A buyer can ask for any repair. The seller can agree to make or not make the repair(s) or offer a credit that effectively reduces the cost of the home. The seller can also make no repairs and offer no credit.

  • Simply being old is not just for credit or repair. It is not uncommon for older systems (HVAC, Roof, etc) to be in perfectly normal working order. However, if there is evidence of defects, inefficiencies, or ongoing repairs it is reasonable to seek a cure. A few examples include:

    · Rust inside of an HVAC system

    · Active or recent roof leaks

    · Windows that won’t open and close

    · Appliances with broken components

  • Even the best inspectors can’t inspect what they can’t see. The best advice we can offer is to hire a trusted inspector.

    During a routine home inspection, the technician will look at the most accessible parts of the chimney including the overall structure, fireplace, and damper. However, they simply can’t see the entire interior without specialized equipment. It is common practice for the home inspector to recommend a Level 2 chimney inspection which uses video to inspect the internal area of the chimney not visible otherwise.

  • A home inspector is like a detective; they systematically inspect a home for explicit defects. During the process, they may see signs of possible issues for which they are unable to conclusively determine if there is a defect or not. Should this happen, the inspector may suggest an additional, specific inspection. One example where this often happens is with chimneys.

  • We will work closely with you to estimate the cost/value of repairs. For specialized or less common repairs, we will suggest asking an expert within that particular field for an estimate.

  • We generally recommend to buyers that we should first seek a remedy to home inspection. On occasion, that isn’t possible. Ultimately, the buyer has the option of voiding the contract prior to the specified deadline as agreed to in the sales contract and would be owed the Earnest Money Deposit.

  • Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. It forms naturally from the decay (breaking down) of radioactive elements, such as uranium, which are found in different amounts of soil and rock throughout the world. Radon gas in the soil and rock can move into the air and into underground water and surface water.

    The EPA recommends that all houses, regardless of what radon zone the house is located in, be tested for radon during point-of-sale.

    The most common procedure for radon testing during real estate transactions is for the potential buyer to request the radon test as part of the overall home inspection. The radon test is generally a separate service and must be requested.

    If the radon test is 4 pCi/L or greater, the EPA recommends the potential buyer negotiate with the seller to have a radon mitigation system installed with the stated goal of bringing the radon level in the home below 4 pCi/L.

Property Taxes FAQ’s

  • The Los Angeles County fiscal tax year or tax roll year begins July 1 of one year and ends June 30 of the next year (e.g., July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024). This is the 12-month accounting period used for the calculation and collection of property taxes.

  • The Treasurer and Tax Collector mail the Annual Secured Property Tax Bills each year in October to every owner listed on the Secured Tax Roll. Per State law, we mail all property tax bills no later than November 1.

  • The Annual Secured Property Tax Bill has two payment stubs. You may pay each installment individually or both installments simultaneously. The 1st installment payment is due on November 1 and becomes delinquent on December 10. The 2nd installment payment is due on February 1 and becomes delinquent on April 10. If the delinquency date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, by law, the Treasurer and Tax Collector extend the delinquency date to the close of business on the next business day. If the Treasurer and Tax Collector do not receive your payment by the delinquency date, or if the United States Postal Service does not postmark your payment on or before the delinquency date, the Treasurer and Tax Collector will impose a 10 percent penalty on each installment and a $10 cost on the 2nd installment.

  • The Treasurer and Tax Collector mail over 2.6 million Annual Secured Property Tax Bills each fiscal year, and as a result, you may find it difficult to reach us on the telephone. We will only respond to telephone inquiries for one parcel at a time. However, we have a great new way to obtain information without waiting on hold.

    Owners of multiple parcels, real estate professionals, and title/escrow and lending companies may use our Secured Property Tax Information Request (Multiple Parcels) forms. This form is designed to assist them with obtaining answers to questions, such as "Who paid the property taxes?," "Are there any pending refunds for the current tax year?," or "Why is a refund being issued?"

    We will send an e-mail confirmation acknowledging receipt of the form and respond to all requests within three business days.

  • Typically, secured property taxes are prorated between the buyer and the seller during escrow. As a new property owner, you are responsible for any property taxes that were not paid as of the time escrow closed. It is your responsibility to obtain the Annual Secured Property Tax Bill. If you do not know your Assessor's Identification Number (AIN), you can Look Up Your AIN and review Pay Your Property Taxes. Failure to receive a property tax bill neither relieves you of your responsibility to pay property taxes on time nor does it allow the Treasurer and Tax Collector to cancel late-payment penalties.

    The Treasurer and Tax Collector mail Annual Secured Property Tax Bills each year in October. This is the only Secured Property Tax Bill the Treasurer and Tax Collector regularly mails each year. Depending on when the Office of the Assessor places the ownership change on the Secured Tax Roll, the Treasurer, and Tax Collector could send the Annual Secured Property Tax Bill either to the previous owner or directly to you. If there are any remaining unpaid property taxes, and if you did not receive an Annual Secured Property Tax Bill from either the previous owner or the Treasurer and Tax Collector, you may request a copy by calling the Treasurer and Tax Collector’s automated Substitute Secured Property Tax Bill Request Line at (213) 893-1103 or visiting

    https://ttc.lacounty.gov/request-duplicate-bill

  • Escrow companies can only pay property taxes if the Treasurer and Tax Collector issue a property tax bill. From July 1 to October 1, the Annual Secured Property Tax Bills are not available. For escrows that settle during this period, escrow companies estimate the property tax amount due and debit/credit these estimated property tax amounts between the buyer and the seller from the proceeds of the sale as costs for the buyer and proceeds to the seller. Your Closing Statement will reflect these debits/credits, which the escrow company issued. If the escrow company paid any property taxes, you will see the payment amount made to the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector on your Closing Statement. Please carefully review your Closing Statement to ensure that you understand whether or not you received a debit/credit at the close of escrow or if the escrow company issued a payment. If for some reason the escrow company overpaid the property tax amount due, we will refund the escrow company as we always refund the payer.

    As a new property owner, you are responsible for any property taxes that were not paid at the time escrow closed. If you have an impound/escrow account, please consult with your lender/financial institution and determine who will pay the property taxes. For more information, go to ‘New Property Owner’ page. We also encourage you to visit our website at https://www.propertytax.lacounty.gov, where you can obtain answers to the great majority of your questions, including how to request a copy of a property tax bill, obtain the amount due on any parcel, or find the tax payment history for the past three fiscal tax years.

  • Lenders/financial institutions do not usually pay Supplemental Secured Property Tax Bills.

    Do not ignore the Supplemental Secured Property Tax Bill. In addition to the Annual Secured Property Taxes, you may also be responsible for paying Supplemental Secured Property Taxes. State law requires the reassessment of property, as of the first day of the month, following an ownership change or new construction. A change in ownership or new construction that occurs between January 1 and May 31, results in two supplemental assessments and triggers two Supplemental Secured Property Tax Bills based on the assessments. The first Supplemental Secured Property Tax Bill is for the remainder of the fiscal tax year in which the event occurred. The second Supplemental Secured Property Tax Bill is for the subsequent fiscal tax year.

  • If you own and occupy your home as your principal place of residence, you are eligible for a Homeowners' Exemption that reduces your property taxes by approximately $75 annually. The Office of the Assessor will send you an application in about three to four months after the Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk records your deed.