Pope Reminds New Owners to Save $20 by Filing Form

Soon-to-be homeowners and other property buyers are getting $20 bills from realty offices, but the bills do not include the face of Andrew Jackson.

They depict, instead, Los Angeles County Assessor Alexander H. Pope, who distributed the facsimile dollars as a reminder that new property owners can save $20 and possibly obtain lower assessments if they file the county’s new Preliminary Change of Ownership Report at the time their deeds are recorded.

State law now requires filing of the report or payment of $20 whenever a property changes hands, but the Assessor’s office has been receiving forms for only two-thirds of all transactions. “It’s a lot more efficient for our office and for the property owners if they file the statement at the time the deed is recorded,” Pope emphasized.