Short answer: Property taxes are generally around 1% of the purchase price, with annual increases capped under California law.
When you purchase a home in Carmel, your property taxes are reassessed based on the purchase price. From there, increases are typically limited each year.
Buyers sometimes underestimate the difference between the current owner’s tax bill and what theirs will be after purchase.
This is especially relevant in long-held properties where assessed values may be significantly lower than market value.
They calculate property taxes based on their expected purchase price—not the seller’s current taxes—and factor that into their overall ownership costs.
If you're evaluating a specific property, we can help estimate what your taxes would look like after purchase.