California Owners 55+ Can Transfer Assessments

California owners 55+ can sell a longtime primary home, buy a replacement anywhere statewide, and carry over the old assessed value up to three times.
The transfer works best when the new home costs the same or less; if it costs more, the transferred assessment rises by that difference.
The law also covers severe disability and wildfire or declared-disaster losses, but age and disability transfers count toward the three-use lifetime limit.
Both homes must be principal residences, and owners must buy or build within two years, then file the county claim within two years.
Families planning ahead should note this benefit stays inside California, and inherited low assessments now usually require the heir to live there.