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Property Inspection/Research

Should I inspect the property before I purchase it?

  • Yes, it is recommended that you inspect the property before you buy! All Buyers should personally inspect each property and its physical condition prior to purchasing.  The Buyer should be satisfied with the property and its suitability for the purpose intended, including the availability of utilities and rights of way or the lack thereof.  Failure of a Buyer to obtain full information about the condition of a property or to conduct their own on-site or off-site property inspection, will in no way constitute grounds for any claim  to adjustment of the sale.
  • All Buyers will receive a copy of the Public Report for the subdivision for which they are purchasing property.  The Buyer will be required to sign a statement that they have received a copy of this report.  This document will be given to the title company to accompany the closing documents and for document storage .

How do I find the property when doing my research?

  • Here are some helpful hints on how to locate the properties listed for sale.  For each property listed we have done our best to provide you with tools to help you determine the approximate geographical location.  Each property listing has a link to http://maps.google.com so that you can see the street, satellite and terrain views.  And, once you click “View Larger Map” beneath the map you can click “Get Directions” and find directions to the property from your own location.  Furthermore, this map also lists the latitude / longitude parameters in case you have a GPS system available.  A county assessor’s parcel map is also provided for each property.

Here are 2 scenarios to help locate a property:

1.   The property has a street address

If this is the case finding the property is very simple.  Go to http://maps.google.com and enter the street name and the city/town name.  If available, enter the zip code and the approximate property location will appear.  You will be able to zoom in or out as you wish until you can clearly tell where the property is located relative to its surroundings.  Once you identify the approximate location of the property you can then compare the detailed view of the property location with the plat map that is available for each property.

2.   The property is in an area with no street signs

If this is the case, we recommend that you print out the detailed map that is available through each property listing or use a good topographical mapping software.  If possible, we also strongly recommend the use of a GPS (Global Positioning System) to help you find the property location.  Basic handheld GPS systems can be purchased inexpensively at any major electronics store.  GPS devices can often be connected to a laptop or handheld device that runs any of the major mapping software and you will have a fully functioning multi-color interactive GPS system.  In such a system, you can enter the Latitude/Longitude measurements provided by us for each property and it should be very easy to find the exact property location.  This combination is useful for very large properties that are not located in a subdivision because the plat maps do not really show much of the surroundings and it would be easy to miss the property otherwise.

How do I understand the Parcel number system?

  • Most counties in most states have a very explicit numbering system to identify an individual parcel and its location within the county.  Those numbers in many cases also serve as identifiers for property tax collection purposes.  In California, the Assessor Parcel Number (also called APN) is the single most important identifier of a property.  It consists of three sets of numbers, generally in this format:  XXXX-XXX-XX.  The three parts of each parcel number represent the Assessor’s Book, the Page, and the Parcel.
  • For example, parcel number 0339-232-74 means that this property is mapped in the Assessor’s Book number 0339, on Page 23 (first two digits of second set of numbers), in section 232 (as indicated by an oval around 232 on the map), and it is parcel 74 on that page (as indicated by a small circle around 74).  So, in order to find a property on a parcel map, just look for the last set of numbers on the parcel number within the proper section and find it on the parcel map we have attached to each property listing.  For your convenience we have identified the parcel to be sold on each parcel map.