Any idea?

Shouldn’t be possible, since all of that is public record.  Square footage (finished and unfinished space), number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, sale date, sale prices are all available from public tax records (although sometime incorrect info pops up).

Wesley - 06 November 2009 03:51 PM

Any idea?

By default, it is included.  There is an “opt-out” section at the bottom of the MLS-entry interface where the broker may hide these data from the ancillary sites.

IrvineRealtor - 06 November 2009 04:14 PM

Wesley - 06 November 2009 03:51 PM

Any idea?

By default, it is included.  There is an “opt-out” section at the bottom of the MLS-entry interface where the broker may hide these data from the ancillary sites.

That will hide some data on an active listing on a MLS site, but public data will still be available on Zillow no matter what (Zillow does not subscribe to the MLS direcly and is no subject to their rules, I believe), and on Redfin if there’s no active listing (I’m not even sure if all that will hide sold prices on an active listing on Redfin; they just might use public records as opposed to the MLS to show former sales).

That is, if you buy your house, but you don’t want noisy people like the users of this forum or your neighbors to find out how much you paid for it using Zillow or Redfin, it’s not possible.

One thing that can be hid on sites like Redfin is auto comps (like Zillow’s) in an active listing.  However, Zillow and the other websites themselves will still show those.

Geotpf - 06 November 2009 03:56 PM

Shouldn’t be possible, since all of that is public record.  Square footage (finished and unfinished space), number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, sale date, sale prices are all available from public tax records (although sometime incorrect info pops up).

IrvineRealtor - Would you please tell us how some folks are able to keep the sales price of their home from view on the public records?

There is an option, I believe, at the county recorder to withhold the purchase price. The purchase price is able to be kept private, but when it comes to the purchase date and other information, I’m not sure if you can hide that. Also, the tax information cannot be withheld, so ultimately someone could estimate what the purchase price was through taxes paid.

*Correction - Title “whites it out,” however, I am unsure of the exact procedure. An escrow or title company would be able to tell you exactly how.

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

I am fairly certain than putting ownership of a home or other property in a trust is not limited to wealthy people, and although showing a trust as the owner hides the name of the owner, putting ownership in a trust does not hide the sales price or any other information on public record.

awgee - 07 November 2009 06:03 PM

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

I am fairly certain than putting ownership of a home or other property in a trust is not limited to wealthy people, and although showing a trust as the owner hides the name of the owner, putting ownership in a trust does not hide the sales price or any other information on public record.

Nope, only the wealthy…

During escrow, or probably even after, you call Title and ask them to white out the doc stamps. While you’re in escrow on a home, ask your escrow or title company how and they will tell you. Purchase prices are definitely able to be hidden from public records.

RoLar_USC - 07 November 2009 06:27 PM

awgee - 07 November 2009 06:03 PM

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

I am fairly certain than putting ownership of a home or other property in a trust is not limited to wealthy people, and although showing a trust as the owner hides the name of the owner, putting ownership in a trust does not hide the sales price or any other information on public record.

Nope, only the wealthy…

During escrow, or probably even after, you call Title and ask them to white out the doc stamps. While you’re in escrow on a home, ask your escrow or title company how and they will tell you. Purchase prices are definitely able to be hidden from public records.

But anyone with a half a brain can figure it out by looking at the tax assesor’s value on the following year’s tax roll.  If it is an MLS listing, I believe the listing agent is required to disclose what the sales price is.

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

That might hide the name of the actual owner of the propetry (unless one tracks down the ownership of the trust), but the purchase price should still be public record.  Can you give an example of a property with the purchase price being hidden?

Geotpf - 09 November 2009 08:28 AM

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

That might hide the name of the actual owner of the propetry (unless one tracks down the ownership of the trust), but the purchase price should still be public record.  Can you give an example of a property with the purchase price being hidden?

How does one track down the ownership of a trust?  I am not being confrontational.  I would really like to know how one does this.

awgee - 09 November 2009 08:41 AM

Geotpf - 09 November 2009 08:28 AM

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

That might hide the name of the actual owner of the propetry (unless one tracks down the ownership of the trust), but the purchase price should still be public record.  Can you give an example of a property with the purchase price being hidden?

How does one track down the ownership of a trust?  I am not being confrontational.  I would really like to know how one does this.

http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/2571/#59307

I’m probably talking about of my ass, but I thought I read somewhere that people hide the sales price by submitting a page of the recording documents upside down or something

awgee - 09 November 2009 08:41 AM

Geotpf - 09 November 2009 08:28 AM

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

That might hide the name of the actual owner of the propetry (unless one tracks down the ownership of the trust), but the purchase price should still be public record.  Can you give an example of a property with the purchase price being hidden?

How does one track down the ownership of a trust?  I am not being confrontational.  I would really like to know how one does this.

Well, it’s a legal entity so it had to be recorded somewhere. In California, it would be recorded at the county level, but other states may be different. However, I could create a trust here in King County, WA and use it to rent a business office (or P.O.Box in Santa Ana), then use that address for mail and records when the trust buys a home in Shady Canyon. The odds of you tracking that back to me without knowing me are so small that they aren’t worth talking about.

Nude - 09 November 2009 12:30 PM

awgee - 09 November 2009 08:41 AM

Geotpf - 09 November 2009 08:28 AM

bkshopr - 07 November 2009 04:47 PM

The wealthiest residents of OC their home info is all private. Ownership is assigned to a trust. Not even Zillow put a value on their residence. Don’t even bother to google it because it was paid to to be hidden.

That might hide the name of the actual owner of the propetry (unless one tracks down the ownership of the trust), but the purchase price should still be public record.  Can you give an example of a property with the purchase price being hidden?

How does one track down the ownership of a trust?  I am not being confrontational.  I would really like to know how one does this.

Well, it’s a legal entity so it had to be recorded somewhere. In California, it would be recorded at the county level, but other states may be different. However, I could create a trust here in King County, WA and use it to rent a business office (or P.O.Box in Santa Ana), then use that address for mail and records when the trust buys a home in Shady Canyon. The odds of you tracking that back to me without knowing me are so small that they aren’t worth talking about.

As far as I know, trusts are not recorded. There is no way to track who created the trust if done properly. That is one of the reasons why people use trusts to buy properties, so no one will know who bought it.

Graph, is there a way to do a trust after the fact? Like if you already own the home, but want to make the info private?

traceimage - 09 November 2009 04:12 PM

Graph, is there a way to do a trust after the fact? Like if you already own the home, but want to make the info private?

Yes, you can set up a title holding trust or you can transfer the property to a family or revocable trust.

USCTrojanCPA - 09 November 2009 04:39 PM

traceimage - 09 November 2009 04:12 PM

Graph, is there a way to do a trust after the fact? Like if you already own the home, but want to make the info private?

Yes, you can set up a title holding trust or you can transfer the property to a family or revocable trust.

Not sure on the title holding trust, but the family/revocable trust will not keep the info entirely private. For example: If the property is under my name “graphrix” and I transfer the property to “the crackercakes living family trust”, I, “graphrix”, will have to grant the title to the trust. The value will not show, but it will be public record that graphrix granted the title to the crackercakes living family trust.

This is why it is best to have a title holding trust setup before you buy a house, so that info is kept private, and most banks will recognize a title holding trust and treat as if you were buying the house as an individual.

Or, you know, just don’t name it “the crackercakes living family trust”. Name it something benign like “MLP Museum Trust”.

Thanks all for your input & insight! 

Replying to StarterHome on examples of properties in which the sold date, sold price, square footage, lot size, etc… are hidden are 39 Fulton, Irvine 92620 & 80 Trailing Vine, Irvine 92620.  If you access Yahoo Real Estate, choose “Home Values” option & type in these addresses then you will see these information are hidden from the public.  I would like to see something similar for my future home purchase just for privacy.

An FYI for all that a suggestion to “opt out” (see below) are done by the sellers &/or listing agent when they close the listing & NOT by buyers. 
    “There is an “opt-out” section at the bottom of the MLS-entry interface where the broker may hide these data from the ancillary sites.”

graphrix - 09 November 2009 05:15 PM

USCTrojanCPA - 09 November 2009 04:39 PM

traceimage - 09 November 2009 04:12 PM

Graph, is there a way to do a trust after the fact? Like if you already own the home, but want to make the info private?

Yes, you can set up a title holding trust or you can transfer the property to a family or revocable trust.

Not sure on the title holding trust, but the family/revocable trust will not keep the info entirely private. For example: If the property is under my name “graphrix” and I transfer the property to “the crackercakes living family trust”, I, “graphrix”, will have to grant the title to the trust. The value will not show, but it will be public record that graphrix granted the title to the crackercakes living family trust.

This is why it is best to have a title holding trust setup before you buy a house, so that info is kept private, and most banks will recognize a title holding trust and treat as if you were buying the house as an individual.

You are right, doing it before the purchase will keep your privacy.  I’ve seen several situations on property details of what you described.

Wesley - 09 November 2009 07:11 PM

Thanks all for your input & insight! 

Replying to StarterHome on examples of properties in which the sold date, sold price, square footage, lot size, etc… are hidden are 39 Fulton, Irvine 92620 & 80 Trailing Vine, Irvine 92620.  If you access Yahoo Real Estate, choose “Home Values” option & type in these addresses then you will see these information are hidden from the public.  I would like to see something similar for my future home purchase just for privacy.

An FYI for all that a suggestion to “opt out” (see below) are done by the sellers &/or listing agent when they close the listing & NOT by buyers. 
    “There is an “opt-out” section at the bottom of the MLS-entry interface where the broker may hide these data from the ancillary sites.”

Hmm.  Both Redfin and Zillow show that 39 Fulton sold for $634,000, but neither show any sales for 80 Trailing Vine, which is a fairly low end condo built in 2005 judging from nearby units.  I don’t know why somebody would bother to do whatever legal jujitsu that would be needed to hide the sale price of such a low end property, if such is actually possible.

The only thing I can think of is that it simply never ever sold in the first place and the builder still owns it, or there was some sort of an error and the sale was never recorded properly by the county.  The only other times I’ve never seen Redfin not have last sale is when a house was built in 1960 or something and you can tell by the property tax value that the original owners still live in it (most on-line records on go back so far), or when the last sale was very recent (although they’ve fixed the last problem by now including MLS sales).  But I’ve never seen absolutely no sales for a generic low end condo built four years ago.  I would like somebody’s professional opinion on this one.  Very peculiar.