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A California listing agent is preparing a CMA for a home in a neighborhood where Proposition 13 has resulted in wide variations in property tax bills among similar homes. A buyer asks whether the property tax shown on the listing will be their tax after purchase. What should the agent explain?

Correct Answer

C) The property will be reassessed at the purchase price upon transfer of ownership, resulting in a new and likely higher property tax bill

Under California Proposition 13 (Revenue & Taxation Code §51), when real property is sold, a change in ownership triggers a reassessment to the current fair market value (typically the purchase price). The new owner's property tax will be based on this new assessed value at approximately 1% plus local overrides and special assessments, which is usually significantly higher than what the long-term previous owner was paying.

Answer Options
A
The buyer will inherit the seller's Prop 13 assessed value and pay the same tax amount
B
The buyer can apply to the county assessor to keep the seller's Prop 13 base year value
C
The property will be reassessed at the purchase price upon transfer of ownership, resulting in a new and likely higher property tax bill
D
Property taxes in California are fixed at 1% of the most recent assessed value and cannot change upon sale

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

prop_13reassessmentchange_of_ownershipproperty_taxCMA
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