Let's Discuss - Assessor's Parcel Numbers

[DonRico]

What do my NJ Colleagues enter on the Appraisal for this number ??

I've found a lot of counties don't use this format (leading zeros and dot-dash Morse Code suffixes). I have been putting "Same as Block & Lot" for years. Why enter the same data in two different formats ?? That is a prescription for errors.

Does New Jersey even use the Parcel Numbers ??

 

[hastalavista]

What do my NJ Colleagues enter on the Appraisal for this number ??

I've found a lot of counties don't use this format (leading zeros and dot-dash Morse Code suffixes). I have been putting "Same as Block & Lot" for years. Why enter the same data in two different formats ?? That is a prescription for errors.

Does New Jersey even use the Parcel Numbers ??

Not from NJ, but I have a question: Do the assessors have a property's tax bill available on-line (public information) and if so, do they have a parcel or TAX ID# they use to uniquely identify the property?

In California, the assessors typically have the tax bills on-line and anyone can access them. These numbers are usually the same as the APN numbers reported our 3rd party vendor records (there may be an additional 1 or 2 numbers at the end; I suppose this is because the number of enrolled properties has increased).

In San Francisco (which, like New York, is its own city and county) the APN# is the same as the block/lot, and many times that is the legal description as well.

So, I'll be interested to see how this situation is handled in the Great State of New Jersey, but I think if it were me and if I were expected to provide the number/label that the assessor uses to identify a property for tax purposes, I'd find out what the assessor uses and provide that information. :new_smile-l:

 

[dobie]

I use Garden State for my initial tax search (I may use vital and NJACTB in addition). I always use the number on GS's tax report which is called Tax Parcel ID.
Starts with a 4 digit town code, e.g. 2912-000xxx-0000-0000x-0000. It's just a different way of restating the block/lot.

That's the # I put in that field and is as close as you're going to get to an assessor's parcel #.

Never been questioned on it.

 

[CANative]

In most counties in CA there is a series of numbers separated by hyphens. Typically the first set of number is the book number (literally a giant book with property descriptions), the second set of numbers is the page number in that book, the third set of numbers is the lot number on the map on that page in that book. Some have extra numbers (anywhere from two to four digits) and those can be designation of types of properties, special tax areas, types of uses, etc., etc.) and this varies from county to county.

Without having the legal description from a deed one could (and I sometimes do) provide a nominal legal description such as: "Lot 2, Page 11, in Book 78A, as recorded by the County of Alameda, California."

You have to watch out that the assessors lot number is the same or different as the original lot number when the parcel was originally subdivided.

Often, staffers at the assessors office will use jargon and omit extraneous 0's and spaces (instead of 078A -0011-002 they will refer to the property as 78a-11-2). I always use what my source for public records lists it as and that is typically the full number with all the zeros and spaces and dashes.

 

[DonRico]

Some counties just use the Block & Lot with no leading zero or other extra appendages. Some counties insert a county code and Township code in front, such as 1507 (Ocean county is 15 and Brick Twp is 07). It's a little too random to be any kind of standard you would want to pin a Mortgage on. That's why the Appraisal says "Same as Block & Lot" on that line, and if they want to say something more specific on the Deed.....go right ahead. Don't make it an Appraisal Match Field.

I have an underwriter in Detroit Michigan, of all places, trying to force some digits into that field. I called the local Tax Assessor and we literally made up a number over the phone. That number existed nowhere else but in the phone notes of that conversation. Of course, the Junior G-man in Detroit nodded his head knowingly and approved our number.

But what value is added to the Appraisal by this seemingly random number ?? The Block and Lot is identified on the Appraisal. Any more than that is kind of beyond the Scope of the Appraisal. If I get a zero out of position, or misplace a Dash....big trouble.

 

[hastalavista]

Of course, the Junior G-man in Detroit nodded his head knowingly and approved our number.

That's one of my favorite lines from the old Bowery Boys movies.

 

[DonRico]

Denis --

That's exactly where I lifted it from......HA !!!

 

[Walter Kirk]

I have appraised in N.J. for approximately 30 years and have been an assistant assessor. N.J. does not use APN's all properties in New Jersey are identified by block and lot number only. I refuse to use made up APN's just to make some AMC or reviewer happy.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Not from NJ, but I have a question: Do the assessors have a property's tax bill available on-line (public information) and if so, do they have a parcel or TAX ID# they use to uniquely identify the property?

In California, the assessors typically have the tax bills on-line and anyone can access them. These numbers are usually the same as the APN numbers reported our 3rd party vendor records (there may be an additional 1 or 2 numbers at the end; I suppose this is because the number of enrolled properties has increased).

In San Francisco (which, like New York, is its own city and county) the APN# is the same as the block/lot, and many times that is the legal description as well.

So, I'll be interested to see how this situation is handled in the Great State of New Jersey, but I think if it were me and if I were expected to provide the number/label that the assessor uses to identify a property for tax purposes, I'd find out what the assessor uses and provide that information. :new_smile-l:

https://wwwnet1.state.nj.us/Treasury/Taxation/TYTR_TLSPS_WEB/Taxlistsearch.aspx

 

[hastalavista]

https://wwwnet1.state.nj.us/Treasury/Taxation/TYTR_TLSPS_WEB/Taxlistsearch.aspx

That's interesting (for me, coming from California): so is the real property taxing authority a "state" agency? Here it is a "county" responsibility.