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Santee · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Santee

Santee has its own transfer tax on property sales, owed by anyone who signs or issues the transfer document or benefits from it. Seller disclosures and property tax after a purchase follow state law.

Key points

  • Transfer tax: Santee taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value.
  • Seller disclosures: State law requires sellers of single-family homes to give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement; court-ordered, foreclosure and some other sales are exempt.
  • Property tax: State law caps the general property tax at 1% of full cash value, plus voter-approved debt; base year value rises at most 2% yearly.

Each rule below is marked Santee code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

Santee code What Santee's code adds
City transfer tax
  • Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city.
    § 3.12.020 · code text
    There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the City is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by that person's direction, when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.55 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate
  • $0.55 for each $1,000 of value, or fraction of $1,000.
    § 3.12.020 · code text
    There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the City is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by that person's direction, when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.55 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000
  • $0.55 per $1,000 of value, or fraction of $1,000.
    § 3.12.020 · code text
    a tax at the rate of $0.55 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold
  • The tax applies only above $100.
    Applies: The tax applies when the value of the interest or property conveyed is more than $100.
    § 3.12.020 · code text
    when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.55 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate depends on price
  • No. One rate applies to every sale: $0.55 for each $1,000 or fraction.
    § 3.12.020 · code text
    a tax at the rate of $0.55 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof.
Who pays
  • Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or the person it is made for.
    § 3.12.030 · code text
    Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter must be paid by any person who makes, signs or issues any document or instrument subject to the tax, or for whose use or benefit the same is made, signed or issued.

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. County documentary transfer tax: A county may tax a sale over $100 at $0.55 for each $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), not counting liens that remain on the property (Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911(a)). City share of the tax: A city may impose half the county rate ($0.55 per $1,000); the county then credits the city tax against its own, so the combined standard rate stays $1.10 per $1,000 (Rev. & Tax. Code § 11931). California rules for buying and selling — the full state rule →

Seller disclosures

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) — who must give it: Sellers of single-family residential property must give the buyer a Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (sale, exchange, installment contract, lease-option or ground lease with improvements) (Civ. Code §§ 1102(a), 1102.2). Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (NHD): Sellers must disclose if the property is in a special flood hazard area, dam inundation area, very high fire hazard severity zone, earthquake fault zone, seismic hazard zone, or wildland fire area (Civ. Code § 1103(c)). California seller disclosure rules — the full state rule →

Property tax after you buy

CA state law California law sets this statewide. 1% property tax limit (Prop 13): The general property tax on real property may not exceed 1% of its full cash value; voter-approved bond debt is levied on top (Cal. Const. art. XIII A, § 1(a), (b)). 2% annual cap on assessed value: The base year value rises each year by the California CPI change, but never more than 2% (Rev. & Tax. Code § 51(a)(1)(D)). California property tax rules — the full state rule →

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

What is the transfer tax when you sell a home in Santee?

Santee taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Santee property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

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