What is APN in real estate?

You might’ve heard the term APN when buying or selling real estate in the United States. So, what is APN in real estate, and why does it matter? And, how can we get access to this number? We’ll explore all these questions here. 

So, what is APN in real estate?

An Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) is a unique identifier assigned to real property by the local tax assessor. It is used for record-keeping and property valuation. The APN also helps the public access property tax information, often searchable by this number. Simply put, APN is a unique number given by the Tax Assessor to each piece of property in a county. That is to say, it’s a good way to tell one property apart from another.

In the real estate industry, several other terms mean the same thing as Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN). These include Property Identification (PID), Property Identification Number (PIN), Assessor’s Identification Number (AIN), Property Account Number, Sidwell Number, and Tax Account Number.

How does APN matter to home buyers and sellers?

An APN is crucial in real estate for several reasons. It uniquely identifies each parcel of land, making it easy to distinguish one property from another. APNs help tax assessors and other officials maintain accurate records of property ownership, boundaries, and changes over time. Moreover, they are used to assess property taxes, linking the property to its tax information for accurate billing and payment tracking.

APNs also allow the public to access property tax information, ownership details, and valuation data through county assessor offices, websites, and public records. Also, they are essential in real estate transactions. They appear in deeds, title reports, and loan documents. They ensure the correct property is involved. Appraisers use APNs to find and assess property values for taxes, sales, and loans. 

Who assigns an APN

An APN is assigned by your local tax authority. Only the city or county where the property is located can give it this number. It helps with record-keeping and property identification.

With the APN, property appraisers and tax assessors can easily find out where and what type of property you own. 

Some tax authorities make property tax information public, and it’s usually indexed by APN. Appraisers use this information to determine property values each year, apply for exemptions, set taxable values, and provide fair market values if you’re buying or selling a house.

How do I find my APN?

To find your property’s APN number, check your property tax bill, where it appears as a series of numbers. You can also find it on your county’s Property Assessor website, as it is a public record. Let’s explore some of your options to look up the APN. 

What are the steps to track your APN?

Understand what is APN in real estate

An APN, aka an assessor’s identification number (AIN) or property identification number (PIN), typically consists of three sets of numbers separated by dashes. These include the map book number, the page number, and the parcel number. For condos, duplexes, and apartments, there might be a fourth set of numbers.

Check your property tax bill

You can find the APN on your property tax bill. It’s usually near your basic ID information at the top of the first page or on the pay stub. It will be labeled as the assessor’s parcel number, the parcel number, or the APN.

Search in your deed of trust

The deed of trust, along with title reports and home appraisal documents, generally includes the property APN. That’s why it’s important to keep these documents together after purchasing your home.

Visit your county assessor’s website

Use your county assessor’s website to locate the APN. It may be listed under “property tax information,” “real estate property search,” or “parcel maps.” You can search using your name, address, or tax ID number.

Read more: Understanding salt tax meaning

Consult a good real estate agent

If you still can’t find your APN, contact your real estate agent. They have access to centralized property records and can quickly provide the information.

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Written by Ramona Sinha. December 9, 2024

Ramona is the Senior Content Writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. She has written articles covering a broad range of topics, such as real estate, lending and mortgage, finance, business, taxation, home designs, home improvement projects, decor concepts, and more. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depth of her soul.