Buying a home in the Redding area from out of town
You can do most of the process remotely: video tours, electronic signatures and inspections you follow by phone or video. When you come to town, we tour your top choices together in person. California adds a few things out-of-state buyers often don't expect, such as property tax reassessment, insurance availability and wildfire and flood checks, so we look at those before you make an offer.
How we work with out-of-town buyers
- Start with a call. We talk through your timeline, budget and what matters about where you'll live. Book a free consultation.
- Get pre-approved with a lender who works with California purchases. I can introduce you to lenders, and you choose who to work with.
- Narrow the list with video. We do video tours and go through the property details, condition and the area around each home.
- Visit when you're ready. When you come to town, we see your top choices together in person and drive the routes you'll use every day. Some buyers make more than one trip, and that's fine.
- Make an offer, with the checks done. Insurance, hazard lookups and utilities are checked before the offer, not after.
- Inspections and escrow. I attend inspections for you. We review the reports together, and you decide what to ask for.
- Close. Ask the escrow officer early how signing will work from where you live.
What to check before you commit to a home here
- City or county? Whether the address is inside city limits or in unincorporated county land changes which agency handles permits and services. See the town pages.
- Water, sewer and heating. Ask whether the home uses public water and sewer or a well and septic system, and how it is heated.
- Insurance. It can be harder to find in wooded and outlying areas. Get a quote for the specific address before you decide. Read the insurance guide. I have some great local insurance brokers I can get you in touch with if you have additional questions.
- Wildfire and flood. Look up the address on the State Fire Marshal's fire hazard maps and FEMA's flood maps.
- Roads and drive times. Who maintains the road, and how long the real drive is to the places you'll go. We test this on your visit.
- Internet and cell service. Confirm what's available at the specific address, especially if you work from home.
California property taxes: what out-of-state buyers should know
California reassesses a property when ownership changes. The county assessor sets a new value based on the sale, and your regular property tax is based on that, not on what the seller paid (California State Board of Equalization). A change of ownership can also produce one or more supplemental tax bills, mailed to you in addition to the annual bill, and mortgage companies don't usually pay those for you (Shasta County Tax Collector). Sources checked October 6, 2026. Ask your lender for an estimate for the specific home, and talk to a tax professional about your situation.
Common questions
Can I buy a home without visiting first?
It is possible, but I would not recommend skipping a visit. The best plan is to narrow the list with video tours and then see your top choices in person when you come to town, which for some buyers takes more than one trip. If you can't travel, tell me early and we will talk through the risks and how to reduce them.
How do inspections work if I live somewhere else?
You can talk with the inspector by phone or video and read the written report. I attend inspections on your behalf, and we go through the findings together before you decide what to ask for.
How does signing work from out of town?
Much of the paperwork is signed electronically. Ask the escrow officer early how the final loan and closing documents will be signed from where you live, since those details depend on the lender and the title company.
Will my property taxes be what the seller pays?
Probably not. In California, property is reassessed when ownership changes, so your taxes are based on your purchase, and you may also get a supplemental tax bill. Ask your lender for an estimate and check the county's information.
I'm not a lender, attorney or tax professional, and I never quote rates. Information here is general and changes.
Last verified: 2026-10-06