Re: Hiding the Price Paid at Trustee Sale

There is a quite a bit of misinformation out there about the "non-disclosure" of the transfer tax paid. Non-disclosure on the face of the deed does not, repeat DOES NOT, equal privacy. The information is public, regardless of whether it appears on the deed or in the book in behind the desk at the Recorder's office. Many data providers and title companies get this info and include it in their price data online. They can get it because....it's public. Case law in CA supports the public nature of this data. The counties have not been able to exempt themselves from providing this information as the courts have found that transfer tax is public information. So withhold it from the deed if you want, but it cannot be withheld from the public.

As for the SBernd. County recorder telling you that you can't white out the transfer tax on the deed....well, you can, but then the deed must be accompanied by the non-disclosure form regarding transfer tax. My guess is that you did not provide such a document at the time you were recording. There's nothing the recording ladies in my county like better than someone who doesn't cross the t's and dot the i's. They are just waiting to pounce. :)

So, now you know. The price you paid is not private. The best you can hope for is non-disclosure on the face of the deed. End o' discussion.