Jordan Z. Marks

ASSESSOR | RECORDER | COUNTY CLERK

County of San Diego

OWNER ALERT


Owner Alert is a free real estate fraud notification service from our office that sends an immediate email notification to subscribed property owners anytime a document is recorded in our office that transfers title to your property.

This new service uses cutting-edge technology with 24/7 monitoring to help protect your home and property title. Enroll now in less than 5 minutes with an email address and your Assessor Parcel Number (APN).


What do I need to sign up?

  • Your Email Address
  • Your Name    
  • Optional - Assessor Parcel Number (APN): Find it on your property tax bill (highlighted in yellow) or use the ParcelQuest look up tool.        

How does it work?

OWNER ALERT is available to alert subscribers when a document is recorded in the County of San Diego Official Records.

If subscribed to OWNER ALERT, you will receive automated email alerts when a document is recorded containing the indexed name and/or Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) registered. This includes liens recorded and placed on your personal, business, and trust names that you register.

You can register up to 10 names and/or 10 APNs per registered email address.

There is no charge for this service, and you may unsubscribe at any time. 

What does the email alert contain?

The automated email will provide a document number for the indexed name and/or APN you registered, and a link to view the document index information. You can also search for the document number through our Official Records Index.

We will not be able to provide information regarding the contents of the document. To view the document, you may view it on one of the public kiosks at our offices or purchase a copy of the document. 

Keep in mind: 

This service only applies to documents recorded AFTER your subscription has been activated. Search the County of San Diego Official Records Index from 1970 to present

Not all APNs and names are entered in the Official Records Index. Learn more about document types and their indexed fields.

Subscriptions monitoring common surnames and/or first names may receive additional notifications that may not apply to the subscriber. If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, contact the District Attorney's Office - Real Estate Fraud Unit.

Enroll a name most relevant or important to you that you wish to monitor. If your property title is held individually, in a trust, or under a business name, you can register using any of those names. Reminder: you can register 10 names and/or 10 Assessor Parcel Number(s) (APNs) per registered email. Please be aware that you will receive notifications for any names that match those registered.

EXAMPLES OF CORRECT NAME FORMATS

Individual Name

Example: George Andrew Washington Jr.

  • Washington, George Andrew Jr
  • Washington, George A Jr
  • Washington, George A
  • Washington, George Jr
  • Washington, George

Prefixes on surnames example: Jose La Posda

  • La Posda, Jose

Prefixes on surnames example: George St. John

  • St John, George

Prefixes on surnames example: Molly O’Hare Smith

  • Smith, Molly O Hare

Prefixes on surnames example: Walter Van de Kamp

  • Van de Kamp, Walter

Business Name

Corporation Example: The Generic Business Inc

  • Generic Business Inc

Limited Liability Example:  The Generic Business LLC

  • Generic Business LLC

Trust Name (Trust names are entered in the Business Name field)

Trusts Example: The Johnson Family Trust

  • Johnson Family Trust

Trusts Example: The Johnson Family Trust Agreement

  • Johnson Family Trust

Trusts Example: The Gary Myers and Jane Myers Trust

  • Gary Myers and Jane Myers Trust

APN – Assessor Parcel Number

Example: 123-456-78-90

  • 1234567890 (no dashes)

After you subscribe, this service will alert you to newly recorded official record documents once the document has been indexed into the Grantor/Grantee Index.

No, this service only applies to documents recorded after the subscriber’s registration has been activated. You can review previously recorded documents by searching the Grantor/Grantee Index.

Yes, the email notification will provide you with an image of the first two (2) pages of the recorded document and a document number for the indexed name and/or APN you registered.  We will not be able to provide a complete copy of the recorded document or information regarding the contents of the document.  You may purchase a copy of the document online using the link provided in the notification or in one of our offices. You may also view the document free of charge by using one of the public kiosks located at any of our offices.

Yes, to edit the names and/or APN, you must open OWNER ALERT and click “Update Subscription” towards the bottom of the page. You will enter the email address used to subscribe so you may receive an email with a link to edit your information. 

Yes, you can unsubscribe at any time. Go to OWNER ALERT and click the "Unsubscribe Now" link towards the bottom of the page and enter your registered email address.

An automated email will be sent to the subscriber email address with an image of the first two (2) pages of the recorded document and the document number for the name and/or APN that was registered. The email will also contain a link to view the recorded document index information. Subscribers can search for the document using our Official Records Index. You may purchase a copy of the document online or in one of our offices. You may also view the document free of charge by using one of the public kiosks located at any of our offices.

An automated email will be generated once the document has been recorded and indexed into the Grantor/Grantee Index.

No, customers must register the name(s) and/or APN(s) they wish to receive notifications about.

If fraud is suspected, immediately contact the San Diego County District Attorney's Office - Real Estate Fraud Unit. Unfortunately, our office is not authorized to take legal action on your behalf.

CONTACTS:

TO REQUEST A REAL ESTATE COMPLAINT PACKET –

District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Packet Request Phone Line at 619-531-3552 or
email: RealEstateFraudComplaints@sdcda.org

TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED REAL ESTATE COMPLAINT PACKET -

Mail to:
Office of the District Attorney
Real Estate Fraud Section
P.O. BOX 121011
San Diego, CA 92112-1011

Or email them as attachments to the following email address:
RealEstateFraudComplaints@sdcda.org

The State of California requires the Recorder’s Office to record all documents that meet recording requirements outlined in California Statute. We have no authority to refuse to record a document that meets recording requirements based on legal sufficiency.

  • You can sign up for Owner Alert to receive email notifications when a document is recorded in a name or APN that you register.
  • You can check the Official Records Index to see what documents are currently recorded in your name.
  • Make sure the Assessor and Tax Collector Offices have your correct mailing address.

Our website is accessible to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except during maintenance times. Email notifications may be sent out any time a record is indexed into the Grantor/Grantee Index.

The "monitoring" is determining matches between registered names, APNs, and newly recorded documents.

Yes, you can register a property held in a trust for Owner Alert. Using the Business Name field you can enter the name of the trust you wish to monitor.

You will need the name of the trust, the name(s) of the trustees, and the APN (optional).

If there are any changes to the trust name or trustee information, update the registration details as soon as possible to ensure accurate and effective monitoring.

Yes, multiple trustees can register to receive notifications for the same property/APN.