Question 1

How do I secure a real-estate contract in Kern?

Accepted Answer

Record a memorandum of contract in the Kern real-property records. It puts the public on notice of your equitable interest so the seller can’t cleanly sell to someone else. Notarized online, recorded with the county, and returned to you.

Question 2

Does Kern allow electronic recording of a memorandum?

Accepted Answer

Kern supports electronic recording (via Simplifile), so a compliant memorandum can be on record quickly.

Question 3

What does it cost to record a memorandum in Kern?

Accepted Answer

One flat price that includes the county fee ($13.00 (standard 8.5x11 page) first / $3.00 per additional page; $3.00 penalty per page if non-standard size add'l (+$75 SB2 fee per title (capped $225/transaction) since Jan 1, 2018)), your online notary session, and tracking to a recording number.

Memorandum filing isn't available in California yet