There has been a significant and fundamental change in the display and public recording keeping of home ownership here in Maricopa County (Phoenix|Scottsdale and surrounding townships of Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe) Arizona.

Preciously, on the tax records, anybody, could go to the public records and type in the last name of a friend, family member, business associate.

The search would return records of not only every home or every Real Estate purchase ever purchased in Maricopa County under that name, but also the purchase price or sale price, down payment and loan amount (or cash purchase).

Now, if you search the public tax records, a only homes currently owned will appear. To further hide this information, individuals are ( after purchase) quit claiming their interest and changing title to the name of a corporation or LLC.

Thus if you search the name, there will be no searches found. by the way you can still search by property address and information contained in the tax records will appear.

By nomeans, am I making a political statement either way.

However, the real question to ask is why was the information so accessible in the first place or maybe why is it much more hidden now?

Either way, I am a supporter of privacy rights. Individuals should have the choice whether or not anyone, but the tax assessor, should know your personal information.

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Copyright © 2008 By James Wexler, All Rights Reserved. *should the public know the purchase price & sale price of your home*

Contact James Wexler (480) 221-8080 for all your Phoenix Scottsdale area Real Estate needs.