San Mateo County, CA Property Records

    San Mateo County, California, is the state's most populous county, with a population of over 742,000, according to recent estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. Redwood City, the county seat, is the third-most populous city in the county after Daly City and the City of San Mateo. The average home value in San Mateo County is $1,511,224, down 0.2% from the previous year but considerably higher than the statewide average of $754,304.

    Listings typically stay on the market for around 18 days before going under contract. About 53.5% of these listings typically sell above the list price, indicating a seller's market. This also suggests that San Mateo County's real estate market is currently marked by high demand, low housing supply, and extremely high property prices. The county's proximity to Silicon Valley and the general high cost of living also contribute significantly to this trend.

    Per Federal Reserve Economic Data, 36.6% of San Mateo County households are cost-burdened (spending over 30% of their income on housing expenses), suggesting a shortage of affordable housing in the county.

    Property assessments and parcel inventories in San Mateo County are handled by the county rather than the municipalities. These records, including tax information, property valuations, and parcel data, are maintained in a centralized digital database that is open to public access.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office keeps all official land records and documents relating to real property titles in the county. It also records real property documents and provides access to these records online. The contact information, coverage areas, and records portal links of the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office are as follows:

    • San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder Office: 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063. Phone: (650) 363-4500, Records Search.

      • Coverage areas: All San Mateo County communities.

    What San Mateo County Property Records Include

    San Mateo County property records refer to official documentation on lands, buildings, and other real properties in the county. These records include deeds, mortgages, liens, certificates of satisfaction, foreclosure notices, plats, covenants, easements, and lis pendens, among others.

    San Mateo County, along with the rest of California, uses a deed recording system to ascribe property ownership. This system, managed by the County Clerk-Recorder's office, maintains recorded property documents, such as deeds and mortgages, in a publicly accessible database for the purpose of tracking and establishing property ownership.

    The county's property records date back to its founding years. However, only post-1985 records are available online. You can access digital and paper formats of older records through in-person visits to the County Clerk-Recorder's Office during business hours.

    How to Access San Mateo County Property Records

    Various methods are available for accessing San Mateo County property records. The specific method to use depends on the type of record required and its ease of access.

    Online Access (Free):

    You can access San Mateo property records online through the Grantee/Grantor search portal. These searches, which provide access to basic property details and record indexes, are particularly relevant as a reference resource. You can search this database using name, address, record type, and recording date. However, only recent records dating back to 1985 are available. You can search and view these records for free, but copying attracts certain fees.

    In Person:

    The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office offers in-person property records searches during business hours through its multiple public terminals. You can also access an extensive record database and search in detail for deeds, maps, liens, and historical property records. Visit the County Clerk-Recorder's office at:

    • San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder Office: 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063. Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

    Note that fees typically apply for comprehensive record searches and certified copies.

    By Phone or Email:

    The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office does not accept record requests submitted by phone or email in the county. You may, however, make general inquiries by phone or email using the contact information below:

    By Mail/Overnight:

    You can mail a written request for property records to the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office, provided specified details are included. Your mail-in request must include the parties' names (grantee and grantor), document type, the recording date, and the document recording number. Record details can be accessed from the online Grantee/Grantor search portal. You must also include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and the applicable copy fees in your submission.

    Mail your record requests to:

    • San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office: Attn: Customer Service Desk, 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063.

    You may also submit mail-in requests to record property documents at the County Clerk-Recorder's office, along with the required fees. Recorded original documents are mailed back to the return address indicated on the envelope.

    E-Recording (Professionals):

    The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office approves the electronic recording process for real property documents, including deeds, maps, liens, and releases. You must engage the services of a county-certified vendor for this type of recording and adhere to the statutory recording guidelines and formatting rules.

    Typical Contents of a San Mateo County Property Record

    San Mateo County property records are official documents that detail the ownership and history of lands and buildings across the county. These records also provide information on financial transactions, assessments, and tax data associated with real property.

    A typical San Mateo County property record contains the following:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer):

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Legal description of the property

      • Sale consideration

      • Assessor's Parcel Number (APN)

      • Prior book/page numbers

      • Preliminary change of ownership report

      • Recording date

      • Return address (where the document should be mailed)

      • Notarized signature of the grantor

      • Declaration of homestead (if applicable)

    • Mortgages and Discharges (evidence of debt):

      • Lender and borrower details

      • Loan terms

      • Repayment terms

      • Trustee details

      • Recording date

      • Default/ sale notices

      • Proof of payment

      • Covenants and conditions

      • Statement of release

    • Plans (visual maps):

      • Survey or plan number

      • Subdivision references

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • Building square footage

      • Zoning information

      • Topographical data

      • Recording date

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Deeds of trust (mortgages)

      • Easements

      • Liens

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Legal action details

      • Lis pendens notices

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)

    While the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office handles most property records, such as deeds, mortgages, and liens, certain records relating to property assessments and tax data fall outside its purview. The San Mateo County Assessor's Office is responsible for overseeing these records and maintains them within a searchable database. Other examples of this category of records include valuations, exemptions, property ownership changes, and GIS mapping information.

    Additionally, statewide tax data is available online on the California State Board of Equalization (BOE)'s website.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    You can follow these detailed directions to pull a San Mateo County deed online:

    1. Visit the San Mateo County website and navigate to the County Clerk-Recorder's office webpage.

    2. Locate the Search Grantee/Grantor link near the bottom of the page and click to access the property search portal.

    3. Click the OK button to agree to the outlined conditions on the disclaimer page.

    4. Search for the deed by name, document number/type, map, recording date, or book/page number.

    5. Identify the required deed from the list of matching results returned, or refine your search by using a combination of search parameters.

    6. View the correct deed at no cost online, or click "Add To Shopping Cart" to buy a copy of the record.

    Cities & Towns in San Mateo County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder's Office is the only property records registry in the county. It serves all the municipalities, along with the census-designated places and unincorporated communities, within its borders. Some of the cities and towns served by the County Clerk-Recorder's office include Foster City, Atherton, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, South San Francisco, Woodside, and Pacifica.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments and Taxes

    In San Mateo County, property assessments and tax-related matters are handled on the county level. The offices of the County Clerk-Recorder, Assessor, Tax Collector, and Controller oversee tax matters and property assessments. These agencies, excluding the County Controller's Office, also provide public access to property-related information through searchable portals on their respective websites. Typical information maintained by these offices includes assessed values, property class, parcel data, abatements, exemptions, and property tax details.

    You can also look up tax data and financial information from the California State Board of Equalization and the State Department of Finance, respectively.

    San Mateo County-Specific Nuances

    Certain unique features can influence property research in San Mateo County, and they include:

    1. San Mateo County's combined assessor and recorder functions centralize property assessment and document recording, providing convenience and a single point of contact for property researchers.

    2. The county maintains deep historical record archives dating back to its formation and facilitates the tracing of real property ownership and transactions back to its founding days.

    3. The county's vast repositories of property records, jointly maintained by the County Clerk-Recorder and Assessor offices, offer free viewing of recent records online and ensure property records are available in both digital and paper formats.

    4. San Mateo County's charter government system, composed of a board of supervisors with a county executive at the helm, guarantees the smooth operations of several county departments, including the County Clerk-Recorder's and Assessor's offices.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    You can record changes to San Mateo County property titles by submitting a new deed to the County Clerk-Recorder's office, along with a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR). Submissions can be done by mail or in person and must also meet the recording guidelines and formatting rules stipulated by law. Typical examples of property title changes include mortgages, new conveyances, lien releases, and homestead filings, among others.

    Documents can be submitted to the County Clerk-Recorder's office for recording from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. E-recording through county-authorized e-vendors is also supported in San Mateo County. The County Clerk-Recorder's office maintains crucial recording information on its website, including recording requirements, document standard guidelines, and a recorder's fee schedule. You can obtain a proof of recording (also known as a conformed copy) if an exact copy of the property document intended for recording is included in the submission.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    The following checklist can assist you in performing thorough property research in San Mateo County:

    1. Determine the specific property record required - This step helps you identify the search portal to use.

    2. Search the registry's online database for the record - This search can be by name, address, document type or number, or a combination of parameters (for more accurate results)

    3. Record reference numbers - Note distinctive identifiers like page/book number.

    4. Review the chain of titles - Doing this provides crucial information on the property's history and ownership, unearthing any undisclosed liens and encumbrances.

    5. Check plans and encumbrances - You can identify any issue that may affect use or limit access, such as restrictions or easements, through this action.

    6. Confirm parcel data with the Assessor-County Clerk's Office - You can glean important property details, including assessed values, tax details, and property characteristics, through the assessor's office's search portal.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in San Mateo County

    San Mateo County has several communities, including 15 cities and 5 towns*. Listed below are the county's cities and towns:

    • Cities: Belmont, Foster City, Redwood City (county seat), Brisbane, Half Moon Bay, San Bruno, Burlingame, Menlo Park, San Carlos, Daly City, Millbrae, San Mateo, East Palo Alto, Pacifica, and South San Francisco.

    • Towns: Atherton, Colm, Hillsborough, Portola Valley, and Woodside.

    *13 Census-designated places and 9 unincorporated communities are also located within San Mateo County's borders (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals