Occasionally, when meeting with homeowners, it will surprisethem how much I already know about their home. Believe me,I am not Sherlock Holmes but so much information is nowpublicly available that it often amazes even me. Easily foundinformation includes how much you paid for your home, if thepayment was cash or a mortgage, amount owed of taxes, if yourproperty is held in a trust and if there are any permits forimprovements you might have made.All the above information and more is publicly available andeasily obtained on the County Assessor's website. So,whetheryou're a buyer, seller, or simply a curious homeowner,understanding what details are confidential and what is publicrecord is essential to managing expectations and protectingyour privacy.What’s Public in a Real Estate Transaction?A real estate transaction, by its nature, creates a paper trail thatoften becomes part of the public record. Here’s what isgenerally accessible to the public:1.Sale Price and Date: Once a property is sold, the final saleprice and the date of the transaction are publicly recorded.2.Property Deed: The deed, which transfers ownership fromthe seller to the buyer, is a public document. It includes thenames of the buyer and seller, if it's held as a Trust or LLC, andthe purchase price.3.Mortgage Liens: If the buyer uses a mortgage to purchasethe property, the lien is publicly recorded. This includes thename of the lender and the loan amount.4.Property Taxes: Tax assessments and payment histories areusually available through the local assessor’s website. Thesedetails can show what the owner is being taxed on and ifthey’re up to date on payments.As always, please feel free to r