Thinking about a move and worried your property taxes will spike? If you own a home in Torrance, Proposition 19 can offer real relief. It gives many homeowners a way to carry a lower taxable value to a new home, which can make your next step more affordable. In this guide, you will learn who qualifies, how the numbers work, and what to file with Los Angeles County. Let’s dive in.

What Prop 19 means in Torrance

Prop 19 lets eligible homeowners transfer the taxable value of their primary residence to a replacement primary residence anywhere in California. If you are age 55 or older, severely disabled, or displaced by wildfire or other disaster, you may qualify. The law also narrowed past parent to child transfer rules, which affects estate planning.

For Torrance homeowners, the practical benefit is portability. You can sell your current home and carry your lower base-year value to a new one, often reducing your future tax bill compared with a fresh reassessment at market value.

Who qualifies and when

• Age 55 or older.
• Severely disabled homeowners.
• Homeowners whose principal residence was substantially damaged or destroyed by wildfire or other disaster.

The property you transfer from must be your principal residence, and the replacement must become your principal residence. If there are multiple owners or a trust, eligibility can be complex. It is smart to confirm details with the Los Angeles County Assessor and a qualified tax professional. Expect to provide proof of age or disability and documents that show primary residence.

How the taxable value transfer works

Here is the core idea. You can transfer the base-year value of your original home to your replacement home.

• If the replacement home’s market value is equal to or lower than your original home’s market value, your taxable value carries over unchanged.
• If the replacement home’s market value is higher, your transferred taxable value increases by the difference.

Think of it like this: new taxable value equals old taxable value plus the amount that the replacement home’s market value exceeds the original home’s market value.

A quick example

Imagine your original home has a taxable value of 200,000 dollars and a market value of 800,000 dollars. You buy a replacement home for 1,200,000 dollars. The difference is 400,000 dollars. Your new taxable value would be 200,000 plus 400,000, which equals 600,000 dollars. That is often much lower than a fresh assessment at 1,200,000 dollars.

How many times and where

• You can generally use this transfer up to three times if you are age 55 or older or severely disabled.
• Transfers are unlimited if you are moving because of wildfire or other declared disaster.
• You can move anywhere in California.

Torrance scenarios you can use

Downsizing in Torrance

You are 62 and selling a long-time family home in Torrance to buy a smaller condo in town. If the condo’s market value is less than or equal to your home’s current market value, your taxable value carries over unchanged. That can mean a lower annual tax bill than taking a new assessment at market. Be sure to factor HOA dues and local assessments into your monthly budget.

Moving up within California

At 57, you sell your Torrance home and buy a more expensive home in another California city. You can still transfer your base-year value. If the replacement home is higher in value, your taxable value is adjusted upward by the difference. Even with the adjustment, you may save compared with a full reassessment of the new home. Run the numbers before you decide.

Selling and buying on a tight timeline

If your Torrance sale and purchase close close in time, file your claim promptly with Los Angeles County. This helps the Assessor apply your transfer to the correct dates and issue any supplemental assessments properly. Follow up if you do not see the transfer reflected on notices.

Planning for transfers to children

Prop 19 narrowed parent to child exclusions. A transfer of a family home may qualify only if your child makes it their principal residence and the value falls within state limits. Other property types are generally reassessed. For estate planning, consult local legal and tax advisors and review Los Angeles County guidance.

What to file with Los Angeles County

To receive the transfer, you must file a claim with the Los Angeles County Assessor where your replacement home is located.

• Get the current claim form and instructions from the Assessor.
• File after your purchase and include required documentation.
• Keep copies and track dates so you can follow up if needed.

Because forms and processing windows can change, verify deadlines with the Los Angeles County Assessor before or right after you close.

Documents to gather

• Deed for the home you sold and the deed for your replacement home.
• Purchase contract and settlement statements with closing dates.
• Proof of age or disability.
• Evidence of principal residence, such as a driver’s license, voter registration, or utility bills after the move.
• If applicable, documentation of wildfire or disaster displacement.

What to expect on your tax bill

California’s base property tax rate is about 1 percent of assessed value. Local assessments and voter-approved charges are added on top, so total bills vary by neighborhood. By transferring a lower taxable value, you can reduce the assessed portion of your future tax bill compared with a new market-level assessment.

Timing and supplemental assessments

Your purchase triggers reassessment as of the change in ownership date. Once your claim is approved, the transferred value and any upward adjustment apply going forward. You may also receive supplemental assessments that reflect the change between old and new assessed values. This process is normal and separate from your regular tax bills.

Quick checklist for Torrance homeowners

• Confirm eligibility based on age, disability, or disaster displacement.
• Review your current taxable value and estimate market values for both homes.
• Contact the Los Angeles County Assessor for the latest claim form and instructions.
• Close on your replacement home and file your claim promptly.
• Keep copies of deeds, settlement statements, and proof of eligibility and residency.
• Watch for supplemental assessment notices and follow up if the transfer is not reflected.
• For complex co-ownership, trust, or intergenerational plans, consult qualified professionals.

How we can support your move

A thoughtful plan makes Prop 19 work harder for you. We help you time your sale and purchase, position your Torrance home with design-forward marketing, and source the right replacement home that fits your lifestyle and budget. Our owner-led service keeps your process organized so you can focus on your next chapter.

Ready to map your options and next steps? Connect with Kristi Ramirez Knowles to book a curated neighborhood consultation.

FAQs

What is Prop 19 for Torrance homeowners?

• It is a California law that lets eligible homeowners transfer the taxable value of a primary residence to a new primary residence, and it narrows certain parent to child exclusions.

Who qualifies for a Prop 19 transfer in Los Angeles County?

• Homeowners who are age 55 or older, severely disabled, or displaced by wildfire or other disaster, as long as both properties are or become your principal residence.

How is my new assessed value calculated under Prop 19?

• If your replacement home’s market value is equal to or lower than your original home’s value, your taxable value carries over; if higher, the new taxable value increases by the difference in market values.

How many times can I use Prop 19 portability?

• Generally up to three times if you are age 55 or older or severely disabled, and unlimited times if you must move due to wildfire or other disaster.

Do I have to file a claim with the Los Angeles County Assessor?

• Yes. The transfer is not automatic. You must file a claim with the county where the replacement home is located and include required documents.

Does Prop 19 cover transfers from parents to children in Torrance?

• Only in limited cases for a family home that becomes the child’s principal residence and meets value limits; most other property types are reassessed under current rules.