The Assessor annually notices and administers over 1.8 million real and personal property parcels and accounts with a full cash value of more than $1 trillion.
Arizona Passes Landmark Legislation to Protect Homeowners from Deed Fraud
Arizona homeowners will now have stronger protections against the growing threat of title and deed fraud thanks toSenate Bill 1479, which received unanimous support in the Arizona Senate and has been signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.
This comprehensive bipartisan measure was sponsored by Senator Frank Carroll, co-sponsored by Representatives Selina Bliss and Patricia Contreras, and championed by Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook, county agencies across Arizona, the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, and industry stakeholders.
This pivotal legislation introduces several major reforms to Arizona’s property system, like closing legal loopholes and imposing stricter penalties on those who exploit them, to better safeguard property owners from becoming victims of deed fraud - an issue that has surged nationwide.
With a forged signature and fraudulently recording property documents, criminals can unlawfully transfer ownership or attempt to leverage property that doesn’t belong to them, oftentimes before the true owner even realizes that their property has been sold, leaving them with costly legal battles to reclaim what they already own. It’s a crime that can target anyone – first-time homebuyers, seniors, and families.
“A home is often a family’s most important investment, both financially and emotionally,” said Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook. “Deed fraud robs people of far more than property; it steals their sense of security. SB 1479 puts real guardrails in place to protect Arizona homeowners, and I’m proud our office helped lead this effort.”
With the passage of SB 1479, Arizona will now lead the nation in making deed fraud more difficult by directly addressing the threat through six key components.
Mandatory Photo ID for In-Person Recording
Anyone recording a document in person at a county recorder’s office must present valid photo identification, with limited exceptions for trusted industry professionals such as escrow officers, attorneys, and financial institutions.
Statewide Property Owner Alert System
County assessors must create an opt-in alert system by January 1, 2027, to notify property owners whenever ownership of their property changes or the mailing address on record changes. This early-warning system will help owners respond to fraud attempts before damage is done.
Strengthening the Affidavit of Legal Value
Buyers and sellers must now provide mailing addresses and phone numbers, with an option to include email addresses, on an Affidavit of Legal Value, giving officials and owners better tools to confirm legitimate transfers.
Higher Penalties for Filing False Real Estate Documents
Submitting false property documents will now be a Class 5 felony, upgraded from a Class 1 misdemeanor, reflecting the severity and financial harm caused by deed fraud.
Repeal of A.R.S. § 12-524
SB 1479 repeals the law at the center of the recent Arizona Supreme Court Case, Dominguez v. Dominguez, which could allow a forged deed to stand as valid if it went uncontested for five years. This fixes that issue and helps ensure forged documents cannot gain legitimacy through legal loopholes.
New Notary Thumbprint Requirement
Notaries must now obtain a thumbprint in their journal for most deeds and other real estate documents. Remote notarizations are exempt only if a video recording verifies the signer’s identity and is retained for at least seven years.
Combating deed fraud has been a top priority for Cook and the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office since 2024. Last year, the Assessor’s Office hosted a Title Deed Fraud Seminar, which brought together industry experts, county officials, and state lawmakers to better understand the increasing issue of deed fraud and devise proactive measures to deter it. Cook said these strong partnerships and collaborations were key to the bill’s success.
“Together, we created practical, meaningful solutions that will have an immediate impact in preventing fraud and strengthening public trust,” said Cook. “This legislation provides the early alerts, verification safeguards, and legal teeth we need to stop criminals before harm is done.”
In a continued effort to increase transparency and expand public access to property information, the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office has launched a new online resource allowing users to freely download detailed datasets...
Bulk Data Downloads Now Free and Easily Accessible
In a continued effort to increase transparency and expand public access to property information, the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office has launched a new online resource allowing users to freely download detailed datasets and bulk property reports directly from the Assessor’s website. These datasets, previously available only through formal requests or for purchase, are now accessible with just a few clicks.
For years, producing these reports required significant time and staff resources. With the implementation of the AA-GAMA assessment system in October 2022, the Assessor’s Office can now generate these datasets through automated processes, making public access faster, easier, and more efficient.
“This is another step forward in our commitment to transparency and exceptional customer service,” said Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook. “Our team has worked hard to modernize our systems so property owners and members of the public can get the information they need without barriers, delays, or unnecessary costs. Making these datasets freely available helps ensure our property tax system remains open, accessible, and easy to understand.”
There are over a dozen reports and bulk files offered on the new Data Downloads page, including Geospatial data. Users can still access parcel-specific or individual account information by searching for and selecting the particular property on the Assessor’s Office website.
Members of the public who need information not included in the standard downloads can contact the Assessor’s Office for assistance at [email protected].
The Maricopa County Assessor’s Office is delivering Notices of Value to nearly 1.75 million property owners this week, about 12,000 more than last year. Values for real property, or parcels, are establish...
2027 Notices of Value Mailed to Nearly 1.75 Million Property Owners
The Maricopa County Assessor’s Office is delivering Notices of Value to nearly 1.75 million property owners this week, about 12,000 more than last year. Values for real property, or parcels, are established a year in advance in Arizona, so these Notices will apply to the 2027 tax year.
The Assessor’s Office determines two values every year for each property – Full Cash Value and Limited Property Value.
Full Cash Value (FCV) reflects market conditions and can change by any amount annually. Due to recent shifts in the real estate market, the median FCV decreased for three property types, while three experienced increases.
The three property types seeing dips in median FCVs are Single Family Residential (-1.9%), Condominiums (-3.5%), and Apartments (-8.9%). Meanwhile, Manufactured Housing, Commercial, and Vacant Land have median FCV increases of 2.7%, 4.1%, and 5.2%, respectively.
The total FCV of all real property in Maricopa County for tax year 2027 is more than $1.14 trillion.
“We know a person’s home, business, or land is often their most treasured asset, so Notices of Value can raise important questions for property owners,” said Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook. “That is even more likely with this Notice, as some property types saw modest decreases and others experienced increases. Our team works year-round to ensure property values are accurate, consistent, based on verified market data, and comply with Arizona law.”
The other key number listed on the Notice is Limited Property Value (LPV), which is used to calculate property taxes. The median LPV of all property types continued to rise due to Proposition 117.
Since going into effect in 2015, voter-approved Proposition 117 has governed how LPV is calculated. If there are no significant changes to the property or its use, the LPV can increase by up to 5% but never exceed the FCV.
“Although market values may fluctuate, Arizona’s Proposition 117 continues to provide important protections for property owners by limiting how much taxable value can increase each year,” said Assessor Cook. “That safeguard remains a key part of ensuring stability and predictability in the property tax system.”
If a property owner believes their property has received an improper FCV or legal classification, they have 60 days after the mailing date to file an administrative appeal with the Assessor’s Office. LPV cannot be appealed.
“I encourage every property owner to review their Notice carefully and reach out to our office if they need assistance — we are here to help,” said Assessor Cook.
The Maricopa County Assessor's Office website offers resources such as FAQs and educational videos to help property owners better understand the valuation process and the factors that influence property values. For additional questions or concerns, contact the Assessor’s Office at 602-506-3406 or [email protected].
Median Values
FCV 2026
FCV 2027
FCV %
Change
LPV 2026
LPV 2027
LPV %
Change
Vacant Land
82,300
86,600
5.2%
19,756
20,365
3.1%
Single Family
Residential
408,100
400,500
-1.9%
225,596
236,875
5%
Condominium
271,500
262,000
-3.5%
128,208
134,619
5%
Apartment
613,100
558,700
-8.9%
159,157
167,115
5%
Commercial
1,088,129
1,132,201
4.1%
575,926
604,547
5%
Manufactured
Housing
119,018
122,245
2.7%
75,085
78,747
4.9%
Data used in the calculation of median values is from Jan. 28, 2026, and may change. This is an ongoing process which reflects market conditions.
All exempt property, new construction, additions, deletions, alterations, or any change in use have been removed from this analysis.
