San Mateo County, CA Property Records
Property records in San Mateo, California provide important details about real estate ownership, assessed values, parcel boundaries, transfers, deeds, liens, and property tax information. These records are useful for homebuyers, sellers, property owners, real estate professionals, and researchers who need to verify ownership, review transaction history, estimate taxes, or confirm legal property descriptions. Because San Mateo is located within San Mateo County, official property records are maintained primarily by the San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder’s Office. Users can access recorded documents, assessor information, and related services through the county’s official website for San Mateo property records. For the most accurate and current information, users should rely on county sources when researching ownership, assessments, or recorded real estate documents.
San Mateo County, CA Property Records & Statistics
San Mateo County has a median rent of $2,757, more than double the $1,260 California figure and well above the $840.25 national median. Renter-occupied housing makes up 37.06% of homes, higher than the state's 33.49% and the national 21.81%, which points to a large rental market and strong demand for housing.
Home values are among the most striking numbers here. The median home value is $1,429,950, compared with $403,775 statewide and $173,750 nationally. Even so, the median property tax rate of 0.57% is lower than both the state rate of 0.69% and the national rate of 0.74%, so the high cost of owning comes from purchase prices rather than the tax rate.
Incomes help explain how the market sustains these prices. Median household income is $161,446.50, against $78,109.75 in California and $65,108 across the country. The unemployment rate of 2.99% is below the state's 3.72% and slightly above the national 2.87%.
Overall, the figures describe a high-income, high-cost county where expensive homes, strong earnings, low unemployment and a sizable renter population all shape the local housing market. For buyers and renters, these numbers mean competition for limited housing and little room for error in budgeting. For researchers, they show why accurate property records, assessments and recorded transfers matter so much when each transaction involves a very large sum.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
How to Search San Mateo County, CA Property Records
San Mateo County property records are maintained by the San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder, which handles recorded real estate documents such as deeds, deeds of trust and other instruments. Records can be searched online or requested in person, and they can show ownership transfers, recording dates, document types and the parties named on a filing.
Start with the San Mateo County official records search to look up recorded documents online. The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder website explains the office's services, and its forms page provides the paperwork used to request copies. Anyone preparing a document for filing can review the recording requirements first.
For taxes and values, the San Mateo County property tax look-up shows a bill by address or parcel number, and the assessor maps portal has downloadable parcel and recorded maps.
To search in person, visit the office at 555 County Center St., Redwood City, CA 94063, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, or call 650-363-4500.
For the best results, gather the property address, the owner's name or any known document number before you begin. Enter your details in the search form, narrow the results by date or document type, and open the entries that match your property. If a record does not appear, call the office for help. Results can include several documents for one property, so check each date and party before drawing conclusions.
San Mateo Registrar of Deeds
The San Mateo County Probate Office is located at 555 County Center St., Redwood City, CA, 94063 and can be reached at 650-363-4500. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Records can be accessed through apps.smcacre.org or the official website smcacre.org.
San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder
San Mateo County Property Records FAQ
How can I search San Mateo County property records by address?
Use the San Mateo County official records search to look up recorded documents, entering the property address, owner name or a document number if you have one. For help matching an address to a parcel, call the San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder at 650-363-4500. Staff can explain which records are available online and which need an in-person request.
How can I find property owners in San Mateo County?
Owner names appear on recorded deeds, which you can search in the San Mateo County official records by name or document number. Ownership details for a parcel may also be available from the county's assessor. To confirm who owns a specific property, call the San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder at 650-363-4500 and ask how to request the information.
How can I check a property's assessed value in San Mateo County?
The county's Property Tax Look-up page is the place to check a parcel's tax details by address or parcel number. For questions about how a value was set, the Assessor's staff at 650-363-4500 can help. Recorded deeds in the San Mateo County official records show past transfers that give context.
Where can I find San Mateo County property tax bills and payment records?
Search a bill by address or parcel number through the San Mateo County property tax look-up, which also takes eCheck and card payments. The county's Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder tax look-up page explains how the search works, and staff at 555 County Center St., Redwood City can point you to the Treasurer-Tax Collector for anything else.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in San Mateo County?
Deeds, deeds of trust and other recorded documents are available through the San Mateo County official records search. The San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder website has more about recording services, and its forms page lists forms for requesting copies. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, at 555 County Center St., Redwood City.
Where can I access San Mateo County parcel maps and GIS information?
Assessor's maps and recorded maps such as subdivision and parcel maps can be downloaded from the San Mateo County assessor maps page, searching by address, APN or book and page. Certified copies of recorded maps are available at the Recorder's office in Redwood City.
How can I check permits and zoning information in San Mateo County?
Permit and zoning questions go to the county's planning and building departments, or to the city when a property lies within city limits. Call 650-363-4500 for help finding the right contact, and check the San Mateo County official records for easements or restrictions tied to the property.
How can I create a list of property owners in San Mateo County?
The online tools are built for looking up individual properties, so a full list of owners usually requires a specific request. Call the San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder at 650-363-4500 to ask what bulk information is available and how to ask for it. For single properties, the San Mateo County official records search shows names on recorded documents.