Investor research
Start with the notice. Confirm the sale.
Use this directory to find recorded activity and the identifiers needed to investigate a property. The original notice and the responsible trustee or Tax Collector provide the sale information.
1. Identify the type of record
A default notice, a trustee sale notice, and a tax deed describe different events. Check the filing type and recorded date before deciding whether it relates to a property currently being offered.
2. Read the original document
Search the document number at the San Francisco Recorder. Confirm the parcel, property address, trustee, and trustee file number against the original document. The directory’s extracted fields are a research aid.
3. Verify the date and sale status
For a trustee sale, use the trustee’s current sale-information source. Confirm whether the sale is scheduled, postponed, cancelled, or completed, and check the applicable bidding instructions. The date originally written in a notice may no longer be current.
4. Research the property and title
Review the parcel’s recorded documents, current tax information, and building permits. Establish what interest is being sold, the relevant liens, occupancy, and any material property issues. Recorded debt and assessed value alone do not establish purchase price or equity.
5. Use the official tax-auction source
For tax sales, consult the SF Treasurer & Tax Collector auction page for the published property list, auction terms, and results. Tax-sale notices and outcomes should be read separately from mortgage foreclosure records.