There has been a significant and fundamental change in the display and public recording keeping of home ownership here in Maricopa County (Phoenix|Scottsdale and surrounding townships of Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe) Arizona.
should the public know the purchase price & sale price of your home ??
Previously, on the tax records, anybody, could go to the public records and type in the last name of a friend, family member, business associate.
The search would return records of not only every home or every Real Estate purchase ever purchased in Maricopa County under that name, but also the purchase price or sale price, down payment and loan amount (or cash purchase).
Now, if you search the public tax records, a only homes currently owned will appear. To further hide this information, individuals are ( after purchase) quit claiming their interest and changing title to the name of a corporation or LLC.
Thus if you search the name, there will be no searches found. by the way you can still search by property address and information contained in the tax records will appear.
by no means, am I making a political statement either way.
I am fine with either. However, the real question to ask is why was the information so accessible in the first place or maybe why is it much more hidden now?
Either way, I am a supporter of privacy rights. Individuals should have the choice whether or not that anyone but the tax assessor know your personal information.
James, different states have different rules on access to sale prices. In Texas, we are a non-disclosure state and the information is ONLY available to licensed REALTORS. A seller can also request that the sales price NOT be disclosed at closing too.
We have gone to a complete open system to the new tax record that only shows current holdings. A compromise between all history available to no records at all
This is how it is in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee as well. I really don't have an opinion either way as to its accessibility via tax assessors sites. In an interesting side note, mortgage amounts and buyers and property history, depending on whether you do name or property search, are available online for many places from the Clerk of the Courts sites. Perhaps a title company or title attorney would be able to provide more insight.
I am not sure of the history of public recodation of deeds. However, it may make sense to record publicly. however, listing price information and how the subject property is financed doesnt seem to make sense
Rich , Jon -- I am a fan of privacy rights in general. I do see some benefit to public recordation of deeds, information on taxes. However, that is the extent. Cant see the need to show the world how much you paid or borrowed
James, great information, it is very intersting to learn what other states offers and to learn some of their regulations and other laws, very informative ! :)
Ray Saenz
James,
Every state is different.....and unless it is a private sale, it is listed in our tax records.
Thanks for stopping by my post.
Dan , hope business is good, we have the same methods here. I am just not convinced that the financing of homes should be public record
As a buyer this information is helpful. However, once you become the owner, It seems you wish it wasnt out there
I dont understand why anything but the recordation of the Deed, price paid, and the taxes are anyone's business. Why should someone know how I paid (financed).