Reading a Property Report
What each line of a Wireroom property report means — and what it can’t tell you.
| Term on the report | Plain meaning | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| APN | The county’s parcel number — the most reliable way to identify a property | Formats differ by county; dashes don’t matter |
| Vesting | How the owners hold title (e.g. “married man as his sole and separate property”, a trust, an LLC) | Trusts and entities change who must sign and who gets notice |
| Owner-occupied | The owner’s mailing address matches the property | A guess from addresses, not a verified fact |
| Trust deed | A recorded loan secured by the property | Recording order generally sets priority — senior loans are paid first |
| No release recorded | No reconveyance has been recorded for that loan | Often paid off without a recorded release. Treat as “verify”, not “owed” |
| Unreleased loans (total) | The sum of loans with no recorded release | Original loan amounts, not current balances |
| Involuntary lien | A lien the owner didn’t agree to: tax liens, judgments, mechanics’ liens | Some survive a foreclosure sale; get a title report |
| PACE lien | Financing for energy upgrades, collected through property taxes | Can take priority over mortgages |
| Unpaid balance | The amount stated on the foreclosure notice | An estimate as of the notice date; it grows daily |
| Estimated value | DataTree’s automated valuation range | A model, not an appraisal; check nearby sales |
| Assessed value | The tax assessor’s value | In California (Prop 13) often far below market |
| Arm’s-length sale | A sale between unrelated parties at market terms | Family and trust transfers aren’t good price evidence |
Data from First American DataTree, compiled from county recorder and assessor records. General information, not legal advice.