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Modoc County
Modoc County
Modoc County is California's far northeast corner, anchored by Alturas. Most land is federal, and the local economy is ranching, hay, and timber with very small-town residential. Distressed volume is very low, but inexpensive ranch and rural parcels do come up.
Property in Modoc
What every owner, heir, and investor should know.
Owning a home in Modoc.
Modoc homeowners get California's standard framework with a remote ranch-and-range overlay.
- Property taxes are paid in two installments due November 1 and February 1; delinquencies run after December 10 and April 10.
- Proposition 13 caps annual assessed-value growth at 2% absent a change of ownership or new construction.
- The Homeowners' Exemption reduces assessed value by $7,000 for an owner-occupied principal residence; file with the Modoc County Assessor.
- Williamson Act contracts can lower assessed value on qualifying ag land.
- Power to Sell triggers after five years of delinquency.
- Excess proceeds claims must be filed under R&TC §4675 within one year of the tax deed recording.
Investing in Modoc.
Modoc presents a small but inexpensive opportunity set, mostly ranch, range, and small-town residential.
- Tax-defaulted auctions are conducted by the Modoc County Tax Collector, typically online via Bid4Assets when scheduled.
- The Modoc County Recorder is the source for deeds, deeds of trust, liens, water/grazing rights, and reconveyances.
- The Modoc County Assessor handles parcel data and assessed values.
- Diligence focus: federal land adjacency (BLM, USFS, Modoc National Forest), grazing leases, water rights, road and utility access.
After a Modoc foreclosure or tax deed sale.
In Modoc, distressed property resolves through California's nonjudicial trustee sale process or the county tax-defaulted property sale program.
- Tax-defaulted property sales are conducted by the Modoc County Tax Collector under R&TC Part 6.
- Owners may redeem before the sale by paying all defaulted taxes, penalties, fees, and costs.
- Excess proceeds claims must be filed within one year of the tax deed recording.
- Trustee sale surplus is distributed under Civil Code §2924k.
- Federal tax liens, IRS liens, and grazing/water-related liens may survive a tax sale.
- Bankruptcy filings stay sales; check PACER and the Recorder before any auction.
Courts and records in Modoc.
- Superior Court of California, County of Modoc — Modoc County Courthouse, 205 S East St, Alturas, CA 96101. Civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, and small claims.
- Court of Appeal — Third Appellate District (Sacramento) hears Modoc appeals.
- Modoc County Clerk-Recorder — 108 E Modoc St, Alturas, CA 96101.
- Modoc County Assessor — 204 S Court St, Alturas, CA 96101.
- Modoc County Treasurer-Tax Collector — 204 S Court St, Alturas, CA 96101.