Most-searched-for properties last week in Riverside and San Bernardino counties

 

Here's a look at where online house shoppers were searching in Riverside and San Bernardino counties last week, according to Realtor.com. These properties received the most hits in searches for homes within 20% of the median list price of $229,500:

1. 4197 Hidatsa St., Riverside, CA 92507
The 2002 Mediterranean has three bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,254 square feet.
Listed at $185,000.

2. 1347 Orange Grove Circle, Corona, CA 92879
The 1998 house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms in 1,937 square feet.
Listed at $199,950,

3. 1033 Queenspark Road, Corona, CA 92880
The 2006 home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms in 2,040 square feet.
Range-priced from $199,000 to $239,000.

4. 6245 Halstead Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
This 1962 ranch has four bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,862 square feet.
Listed at $275,000.

5. 32765 Castana Drive, Temecula, CA 92592
The 2001 two-story has four bedrooms and three bathrooms 2,100 square feet.
Listed at $199,900.

By comparison, a public records search shows house No. 1 sold for $175,500 in 2002 and No. 2 sold for $166,000 in 1998. Neither is that far off today's prices.

-- Lauren Beale

Thoughts? Comments?

Photo: The most-searched home in Riverside County last week at Realtor.com was this three-bedroom home at 4197 Hidatsa St. in Riverside. Credit: Lonnie Maples 

Property tax revenues to drop in many Southland cities

In the "less is less" category, see "Cities brace for revenue losses as property values continue to drop" at latimes.com:

Assessors in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are forecasting the first drops in property tax collections in more than a decade, presaging reduced revenues for many cash-strapped local governments.

Until now, property tax revenues had been a relatively stable source of money for cities amid a recession that has dramatically reduced sales tax intake, particularly from car dealers.

Even with the decline in home values, the property tax base in five Southland counties grew last year thanks to continuing sales and the completion of construction begun during the 2003-2006 building boom. But assessors in those counties said they have reduced the value of more than half a million properties and expect to make deeper cuts to their rolls by the summer.

Not surprisingly, San Bernardino will be harder hit -- with an anticipated 5.7% drop -- than L.A. County, which projects a 1% drop. Orange County expects to retain the same property tax base or see growth up to 2%. Ventura County expects the base to remain flat. Has anyone out there gotten their property tax lowered and, if so, by how much?

-- Lauren Beale

Thoughts? Comments?

Photo: John Curulli had his Altadena home, purchased in 2006, reassessed from $470,000 to $425,000 and saved nearly 10% on his property tax bill. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times