San Mateo County CA. California PROPERTY RECORDS – Lien and title search – Deed Copy

How to Access San Mateo County California Property Records and Deeds, Lien and Title Search

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Accessing property records in San Mateo County, California is essential for real estate transactions, title searches, and property research. The county provides multiple online resources and in-person services to help residents and professionals obtain property information, deeds, liens, and tax records.

Official San Mateo County Property Records Portal

The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office provides online searches of property documents recorded since 1985 through their Grantor/Grantee index. The primary access point is the RecorderWorks system at https://apps.smcacre.org/recorderworks/, which allows you to search recorded documents by various criteria including names, dates, and document types.

San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Office

The main county office handles all property-related records and assessments. Visit their comprehensive website at https://smcacre.gov/ for access to multiple property search tools and services. The office is responsible for recording and maintaining real property transactions, including deeds, mortgages, court decrees, liens, and releases.

Physical Address:
555 County Center, 1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 363-4500

Property Tax Records and Assessment Information

For property tax lookups and assessment information, use the official county tax search tools:

• Property Tax Lookup: https://smcacre.gov/assessor/property-tax-look
• Assessor Information: https://smcacre.gov/assessor
• Tax Collector Services: https://www.smcgov.org/tax

San Mateo County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector offers a Secured Property Tax Search where you can find property tax information by searching by address or parcel number. Secured property taxes are assessed against real property, with the tax serving as a lien secured by the land/structure.

Grantor/Grantee Index and Document Search

Access the Grantor/Grantee search system at https://smcacre.gov/county-clerk-recorder/search-grantor-grantee-information to research property ownership transfers and recorded documents. Documents are indexed based on multiple factors, including grantor/grantee name, property address, document type, recording date, and unique parcel number.

Property Maps and GIS Portal

San Mateo County provides an interactive mapping system for property research at https://gis.smcgov.org/Html5Viewer/?viewer=raster. This Geographic Information System (GIS) portal allows users to view parcel boundaries, property information, and mapping data.

Deed and Document Recording Services

For recording new documents or obtaining copies of existing records, contact the County Clerk-Recorder’s office directly at https://smcacre.gov/county-clerk-recorder. Property record copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page, with certified copies requiring an additional $5 certification fee.

Lien Search and Title Research

Comprehensive lien searches can be conducted through the RecorderWorks system and the county’s various databases. Official property records including liens, mortgages, and other documents affecting title to real property are registered sequentially at the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.

Key resources for lien and title research:

• RecorderWorks Database: https://apps.smcacre.org/recorderworks/
• Property Records Search: https://smcacre.gov/county-clerk-recorder/records-documents
• Parcel Information: https://smcacre.gov/assessor/parcel-information

Business Hours and Contact Information

Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(Closed on holidays and departmental functions)

Phone Numbers:

• Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder: (650) 363-4500
• Tax Collector: (866) 220-0308

Payment Methods:

• In-person: Cash, check, Visa, MasterCard
• Mail: Check payments only
• Online: Credit card payments with 2.35% service fee

Online vs In-Person Access

While many records are available online, some documents may require in-person visits or special requests. The county maintains public terminals in their office for additional search capabilities not available through the online portals.

Professional Services and Third-Party Options

For comprehensive title research and professional property reports, several third-party services complement the county’s official resources:

• NETR Online: https://publicrecords.netronline.com/state/CA/county/san_mateo
• CourthouseDirect: https://www.courthousedirect.com/PropertySearch/California/SanMateo

Important Notes for Property Research

Records are made available to the public as allowed by law, with copying and certification costs that may apply. The county recommends seeking advice from an attorney or real estate professional before recording documents that affect title to property, as the Recorder’s Division cannot provide legal advice.

For the most current information and any changes to services or fees, always verify directly with the San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder’s office through their official website at https://smcacre.gov/ or by calling (650) 363-4500.