Mello Roos Tax Questions Answered

Mello Roos Taxes

What is a Mello Roos tax and how much is it going to cost homeowners when buying a home? Our local title expert Derrick Leblanc states, “the Mello Roos is an extra bond assessment for properties in specific communities and primarily put in place to help the local schools.

Get Your FREE Mello Roos Amount
Scroll all the way down and fill out the comment form to request a Mello Roos amount. Be sure to include the exact address and zip code.

We Will Respond Within 1 Business Day
We will send you an email and post the response in the comments section of this page. We will usually respond within 1 business day. Please do NOT request expiration dates as we only provide that information to our clients. We offer this as a FREE community service with NO strings attached! This FREE service is NOT intended as a tool for other real estate professionals.

When did the Mello Roos Begin?

Here in Santa Clarita the Mello Roos bonds did not begin until 1985 or 1986, so it’s safe to assume any homes built prior will NOT have a Mello Roos. This only applies to the Santa Clarita areas, so if buying a home in another area, that date may not be accurate.

When considering real estate in Santa Clarita Valley buyers should be aware of the potential for a Mello Roos Tax. Not all, but a good number of our Santa Clarita communities come with a special Mello Roos Tax. Buyers must consider it as a part of the monthly budget as it will be included in your debt to income ratio by the lender.

The Mello Roos Tax can be quite hefty and continues to surprise many prospective homebuyers. Although most of us refer to the Mello Roos as a tax, in reality it is a bond and only applies to specific communities. When buying a home it’s important to be aware of what the amount is and which areas are affected.

Surprising Fact: There are a few neighborhoods where one home has a Mello Roos and another home one block over does not! We discovered this years ago while representing a buyer looking at homes in the Toscana neighborhood of West Creek.

If you are planning to buy a home anywhere in SCV you’ll need an experienced, full time agent who has a complete understanding of Mello Roos, HOA’s and much more.

Mello Roos Explained by Title Expert, Derrick Leblanc

derrick leblanc circle
Derrick LeBlanc

Through the years of serving our local community we’ve answered many questions about the mysterious Mello Roos and we know how frustrating it can be understanding the possible implications when buying or selling a home. In order to help others learn more about this, I (Matt Gregory) interviewed title expert Derrick LeBlanc to help us clear up common Mello Roos Tax questions.

Video Interview With Derrick About Mello Roos

Have a look at the video below as Derrick shares an explanation and offers his insights about the topic of the Mello Roos as it relates to the Santa Clarita vicinity. Yes, the video is a bit old but it’s still accurate and valid!

Matt Meray Gregory Realtors and Brokers
NAR Realtor Designations

Mello Roos Amount in ADDITION to Property Taxes

Buyers must be cautious because the amount of the Mello Roos varies and is not a part of your usual property tax bill. This special bond is, in addition to the approximate 1¼% tax we typically plan for when considering our new home budget. Also, the amount of the Mello Roos does NOT change if a property is sold to a new buyer at a higher price.

Will the Mello Roos Ever End?

Some people believe the Mello Roos is only temporary and will eventually end. Although we have seen some Mello Roos bonds expire, that is the exception rather than the rule. Also, as of 2023 we’re hearing some of the bonds in new developments will last 40 years or more! Most of the original bonds were much shorter, 15 to 25 years. According to Derrick, although the bond assessment always has a timeline which includes a start date and end date, there’s always a special stipulation written into the original bond allowing the benefactor (the schools) to approve the continuation of this tax, beyond the original end date. Let’s be honest! When have we ever seen a school that did not need money? The truth is, rarely has there ever been a Mello Roos tax discontinued in Santa Clarita, but we hope to see this change in the future.

2020 Mello Roos Update
Thankfully, we are finally beginning to see a few of these bonds expire, without renewal. We are hopeful this trend continues but we still advise our clients to not get their hopes up. For instance, if you are buying a home with a Mello Roos due to expire in a year, DO NOT EXPECT it to happen. Let’s all remain hopeful!

Santa Clarita Neighborhoods Known to Come With the Mello Roos Tax

Most of the newer developments such as Mission Village, West Creek, West Hills, parts of the new Plum Canyon area and Stevenson Ranch. We know there’s a Mello Roos in the new Skyline community and the big housing development behind Magic Mountain too. There are a few new Canyon Country developments with special bonds assessments as well, so be proactive and ask your agent before making any offer to buy!

In order to help fund the added local services needed for more households, most new developments come with the Mello Roos bond assessment. Occasionally a new development will come without it but if there is no special tax, the home prices go up. Without the special tax, the money comes out of the developers pocket and ultimately the home buyer must pay higher home prices. Some real estate professionals believe it’s wash! If there’s a Mello Roos the home prices are typically lower than if there was none.

Free Mello Roos Amount Service by Matt & Meray

As Santa Clarita realtors we offer a service to the community by providing Mello Roos amounts at no cost, but it is NOT an automated process. The best way to verify the existence and amount of any Mello Roos tax is to complete the comment form below the comments and we’ll research your answer. Along with our Title Expert Derrick LeBlanc, we provide this service free of charge and there is no obligation whatsoever. For consumers only! PLEASE, NO REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS.

Please remember, we’ll need the exact address and your REAL email address in order to provide you with a response.

Example Address:
54321 Main st, AnyCity CA 91354

You will usually receive the Mello Roos amount within one working day.

Sorry, Mello Roos Expiration Dates Provided to Clients Only

Sorry guys, but we only provide expiration dates to our clients. Typically, to find the maturity/expiration date for a specific bond can take several days and requires consultation from several real estate professionals.

We suggest contacting your county’s tax assessor office and they can provide you with the maturity dates. Here’s is the link. LA County Tax Office.

In additional to the tax amounts, should you have any other questions or need any information, we’ll do our very best to provide your answers. Please complete the comment form below and we’ll be happy to help.

90 Comments

  1. Hello.
    What is the Mello roos for century community builders Meridian property in Suisun ca? Thank you

    1. Hi Brandi,
      Because the area you are referencing is outside of our service area in northern CA, we’re unable to provide you with the Mello Roos amounts.

  2. Hello,

    Do you know the Mello Roos & HOA fees for the new Bella Terra homes at Tesoro Highlands in Valencia?

    Thx,
    Ange

    1. Hi Ange,

      The total tax rate including Mello Roos is estimated to be approximately 1.75 to 1.9% of the purchase price. The monthly HOA amount is approximately $308.

  3. Hi, Pete. Thank you for this information.
    Could you please check if the below property has any mello-roos? We assume this property has the mello-roos (special assessment tax) but we are unable to find it from the assessor.

    27009 Hummingbird Ln, Valencia, CA 91355

    1. Hi Jin,

      Regarding the property at 27009 Hummingbird Ln, Valencia, CA 91355, the annual Mello Roos fee is approximately $1,982.02. It’s also important to note that while all properties in the FivePoint Valencia MLS area have a Mello Roos fee, the amounts vary.

  4. Hello,

    I would appreciate the help to confirm if 29215 Dakota Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91354 has a mello roos? Thank you.

    1. Hi Diane,

      The annual Mello Roos amount for the subject property is approximately $5,058.56, sourced from public records filed at the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office. If you are in the process of selling or buying this property, it is important to request your agent or title representative verify the accuracy of this information. Alternatively, you can directly contact the Assessor’s Office by visiting their website at https://assessor.lacounty.gov/.

    2. Hi there
      Could you please provide Mello Roos For
      Residence
      28225 Clementine Drive, Saugus, CA 91350-3252

      Appreciate it very much.

      1. Hi James,

        The approximate annual Mello Roos amount for the property at 28225 Clementine Drive, Saugus, CA 91350 is $5,606.91. This total is the sum of two separate Mello Roos charges: one for the Saugus School District and another for the Hart School District.

  5. Hi Pete, thanks for doing these. Can you check if there is a mello Roos tax for the below
    28353 Willow Canyon Ct Saugus, CA 91390

    1. Hi Paul,

      According to the public records on file at LA County, there is no Mello Roos for the property located at 28353 Willow Canyon Ct Saugus, CA 91390. I see this property is located in the Estrella Vista subdivision of the Copper Hill North community. Those interested can check out our full report about Estrella Vista here.

        1. Hi Alam,

          Concerning the property situated at 24037 Joshua Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91354, there are two Mello Roos assessments, totaling approximately $2,741.41 per year. This information is a matter of public record on file at L.A. County.

  6. Hi there
    Could you please provide Mello Roos for:

    24327 LA Montura Dr, Valencia, CA 91354

    Appreciate it very much.

    1. Hi Leyzle,

      The annual Mello Roos amount for the property at 24327 La Montura Dr, Valencia, CA 91354 is approximately $3,919.63, sourced from public records filed at the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office. If you are in the process of selling or buying this property, it is important to request your agent or title representative verify the accuracy of this information. Alternatively, you can directly contact the Assessor’s Office by visiting their website at https://assessor.lacounty.gov/.

    1. Hi Anna,

      According to the public record on file at LA County, the Mello Roos amount for the property located at 17038 Provo Lane, Canyon Country, CA 91387 is approximately $2,600 annually.

      By the way, we also sent you an email as well. If you didn’t receive it, try checking your spam folder.

    1. Hi Amanda

      RE: 29119 Mission Trail Ln, Santa Clarita Ca 91354

      According to the records on file with LA County, there are 2 Mello Roos amounts. One amount is $2,634 annually, but the second amount is not clear. If we had to guess, it’s probably around $2000 annually, but we cannot confirm. Hope this helps.

  7. Hello, can you check if there are any Mello Roos for 27554 Falling Star Ln, Santa Clarita 91350? Thanks!

    1. Hi Josh,

      Regarding the property located at 27554 Falling Star Ln, Santa Clarita 91350, according to the public records on file with the county, there is no Mello Roos.

  8. Hello,

    We are looking for a new single-family home with a clean amount of Mello-roos taxes:

    27367 Dialogue Way, Valencia, CA 91355

    28678 Windbreak Ter, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

    Please advise the annual amount for those communities in SVC.

    Sincerely,

    Alla

    1. Hi Alla,

      Because both properties are in new neighborhoods, there are not yet any tax records available at the county. However, based on our conversations with the sales representatives in the Skyline community, the combined property tax AND Mello Roos is approximately 1.75% of the purchase price, annually. The other property in the Skylar neighborhood of Valencia will likely be similar, but we’re still working to confirm what that percentage will be. Once we receive confirmation, we’ll post it here.

      Unfortunately, when considering the overall purchase price of a brand new home, the mello roos amounts is sometimes higher than anticipated. Be sure to verify the mello roos bond amount and the expiration date before making a purchase.

    1. Hi Alam,

      Regarding the Mello Roos for 22020 Windham Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, the amount is $2,286 annually. This information is a matter of public record currently on file with LA County. Should you have any further questions or need representation to buy or sell a home, feel free contact us directly.

  9. Hello, would you please be able to tell me how much the Mella Roos is, and when I will be billed? Is it normally done via mail, how often, etc…?

    Address:

    23925 Brescia Dr Woodland Hills, CA 91354

    1. Hi Sam,

      The address you entered was 23925 Brescia Dr, Woodland Hills, CA 91354, but I assume the property is actually in Valencia. The Mello Roos amount for 23925 Brescia Dr, Valencia, CA 91354 is $2,625 annually.

      Regarding the billing, the mello roos is included with your property taxes and comes due at the same time.

  10. Hello Pete! Do you know what’s the mello roos amount for Five Points in Valencia?
    The address is 27117 purple sage ct, valencia, CA, 91381.
    Thanks for any info!

    1. We communicated with Martin via email, but were not able to provide a mello roos amount because the property is just too new! The home is located in the new FivePoint® development near Magic Mountain. Martin was actually helpful, stating the sales agent originally told him his combined property tax and mello roos would be approximately 2% of the sales price, which was too high. He has since contacted the county and was told the amount is $2,500 annually. Thank you to Martin for sharing this information as it may be helpful to others.

  11. Hi and thank you for providing this service. Can you tell me How much are memo Roos for this property.

    40008 montage ln
    Murrieta ca 92563

    1. Hi Lisa,
      Unfortunately, Murrieta is outside of our service area, so we cannot confirm the Mello Roos amount. I can say, the total of Special Assessments is $1,507.22 annually. Of that amount, $552 is labeled as CFD, which usually indicates a Mello Roos. However, there are some local designations as well, and we just don’t have enough experience in the area to know what those are. Hopefully this bit of info helps you out anyway.

    1. Hi Abhi,

      This one was not so easy to pull the records, however we determined the Mello Roos amount for 28242 N Via Sonata Dr, Valencia, CA 91354 is approximately $3,200 annually.

  12. Can you provide the Mello Roos tax on 20600 Galloway Drive in Santa Clarita? Some Galloway home sales state no Mello Roos. Others do have it.

    1. Hi Craig,

      Yes, this is one of those neighborhoods where some homes have a mello roos and others don’t. According to the records on file at the country, there is no mello roos for the property address, 20600 Galloway Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.

  13. Hello,

    Please help provide the Mello Roos for the following addresses:

    1) 27812 Marquee Dr, Valencia, CA 91381

    2) 25529 Paine Cir, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381

    Thank you.

    1. Hi Tyler,

      With regard to the property located at 25529 Paine Cir, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381, according to the records on file at the LA County Assessor’s office there is no Mello Roos.

      The property at 27812 Marquee Dr, Valencia, CA 91381 probably has a Mello Roos, but since it’s in the brand new Mission Village community, it’s still too early for records to be available at the county.

      Generally, the county is far behind when it comes to recording mello roos records, so it could be a year or two before we’re able to pull up records in any new neighborhood.

  14. Hello! Thank you for providing this service. Great info!
    Would you provide the Mello Roos for the new Tesoro del Valle development? (i.e. 23840 Rio Ranch Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91354)
    Thank you!

    1. With regard to the property located in the Tesoro community at 23840 Rio Ranch Way, the mello roos amount is $4,500 annually. This information is a matter of public record on file at the LA County Assessor’s Office.

      We hope you find this information helpful. Should you or someone you know need representation to buy or sell a home, your consideration of our services is sincerely appreciated.

  15. Could you please help me to find out the mello roos amount for the property at
    239 Doulton Ct, Roseville, CA 95661
    Thank you very much.

  16. Hi Pete thank you in advance. Would you tell me if there is a mello Roos at 17035 Mitchell Dr, Canyon Country, CA 91387 and how much?

    1. Hi Dolores,

      Regarding the property located at 17035 Mitchell Dr, Canyon Country, CA 91387, for some reason the mello roos amount for this specific property is not appearing in the public records. However, the Mello Roos amount for a nearby property at 17043 Mitchell Dr is $2,600.53 annually. You are probably safe to assume the mello woos for 17035 Mitchell Dr is similar.

      We know all the homes in Vista Canyon come with a Mello Roos, but since it’s a newer community sometimes it takes a while for the county to catch on.

    1. Hi Russ,

      Sorry, but this location is out of our service area and we’re unable help you with this. Basically, we serve Santa Clarita, San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley and Ventura. Try contacting LA County directly.

  17. Hi!
    Thanks for the information
    Could you please provide me the Mello Roos for the following addresses:

    26971 Hillsborough #80, Valencia, CA 91354
    28481 Herrera St, Valencia, CA 91354

    1. Hi Yang.

      According to the records on file at the county, the Mello Roos amounts for the two properties are as follows:

      $0 – 26971 Hillsborough #80, Valencia, CA 91354
      $2,624 Annually – 28481 Herrera St, Valencia, CA 91354

    1. Hi Anoop,

      Regarding the property at 29325 Via Milagro Valencia, CA 91354, there are two mello roos amounts totaling $3,554 annually. This information is based on the public records on file with LA County.

    1. Hi Jaikumar,

      Regarding the property located at 29121 Shasta Lane, Valencia, CA 91354, there is at least one and possibly two mello roos bonds. We are sure one amount is $1,510.03 annually. Looking at the public records, the information is unclear and we cannot provide any additional information on this.

      With regard to the property tax I can only offer the following general calculation often used for property in CA.

      Generally, California homebuyers who are trying to estimate what their property taxes should multiply their home’s purchase price by 1.25%. This includes the base rate of 1% and additional local taxes, which are usually about 0.25%, but they can vary.

      Then, add any special bonds, such as the annual Mello Roos amount.

    1. Hi Uma,

      $4,000 is the annual mello roos amount for the property located at 28746 N Iron Village Dr, Valencia, CA 91354. The source for this information is on record at the Assessor’s Office of L.A.County.

  18. Hello!

    Interested in finding out about possible mello roos for 19913 CHRISTOPHER LN SANTA CLARITA CA 91350-3684

    thank you!

    1. Hi Martin,
      Regarding the Mello Roos for the property located at 19913 Christopher Lane Santa Clarita CA 91350, there are 2 Mello Roos bonds totaling $6000 annually. Yes, this is one of the neighborhoods with a more costly Mello Roos. We don’t know when the bonds are set to expire, but if planning to buy a home in this neighborhood it would be worth finding out.

    1. Hi Deana,

      We need an exact address in order to provide Mello Roos information. Also, since this is a new neighborhood, there’s a chance no records will be available.

      Based on our conversations with the sales representatives in the Skyline community, the combined property tax AND Mello Roos will be approximately 1.75% of the purchase price, annually.

  19. Hello, could you please help me in understanding how much is Mello Roos for this property: 24331 Verdugo Cir, Valencia, CA 91354,
    Thank you!

    1. Hi Elena,

      Regarding the property located at 24331 Verdugo Cir, Valencia, CA 91354, the Mello Roos amount is $2,738 annually. This information is provided based on the property records on file at the LA County Office of the Assessors.

  20. Hello
    Thanks for providing this service. Can you tell me the Mello aRoos for:
    1707 Burmese Place Palmdale ( sometimes listed as Leona Valley). Is their an expiration date?

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Robert,

      As far as mello roos amounts go, this one is not bad at all! According to the records on file with the county, the Mello Roos amount for the property located at 1707 Burmese Place Leona Valley, CA 93551 is $809.69 annually. We are unable to provide expiration dates here and suggest contacting the LA County Assessor’s office for that type of information.

  21. Hi, thanks for your information. What’s the Mello-Roos amount for 347 E. Workman St., Covina, CA 91723

    1. Hi Evelyn,

      Unfortunately, Covina is not within our service area and cannot fully verify if a Mello Roos exists. However, I did a lookup in the MLS and not seeing any special assessments. You should verify, but I think you are okay on this property.

    1. Hi Alam,

      According to the records on file at the county, the amount for 21765 Propello Dr, Santa Clarita, CA 91350 is $1,769 annually.

    1. Hi Scott,

      Regarding the Mello Roos for 27301 Leighton Ln, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, the amount is $2507.86 annually. Not too bad when compared to other nearby neighborhoods.

  22. Hello Pete, I’m interested in learning about the Mello Roo taxes at this location:
    29211 Rio Lobo Way,
    Valencia, CA 91354
    Thank you!

    1. Hi Ana,

      Sorry for the delay in responding. Unfortunately, the exact Mello Roos amounts for 29211 Rio Lobo Way are not clear. We know there are 2 separate amounts and have confirmed one is $2014.88. The 2nd is not clearly defined but appears to be approximately $2500. Combined, you are looking at upwards of $4,500. I suggest allowing for around $5K, just to be safe.

  23. Hi
    I was looking at my property tax statement and it looks like I have 2 CFD Assessments ( I believe this is the code for Mello Roos).
    One reads CFD Saugus and the other CFD Hart. Together they add up to over $8,000. Can you let me know if this is somewhat accurate?
    Thank You

    I apologize I didn’t leave my address
    20523 Suzie Ln
    Santa Clarita, Ca 91350

    1. Hi Dorian,

      Sadly, you are correct. According to the records, for the property located at 20523 Suzie Ln in Santa Clarita, the Mello Roos amounts are $4004.99 and $4034.38 annually. We have sold homes in this neighborhood in the past and it’s always a bit more challenging. At over $8K, it is one of the most costly in SCV.

    1. Hi Laureen,

      UPDATE:
      With regard to the property located at 23936 Rustico Ct, Santa Clarita 91354, there are two Mello Roos instances. The amounts are $1,865.74 and $766.50 annually.

  24. Hi Peter,

    Could you please let me know the Mello Ross at this new property which they are launching.

    29007 Hasley Canyon Road • Santa Clarita Valley, CA

    Thank You so much!

    1. This address is in the new Williams Ranch development and it’s too soon to know of the Mello Roos amount. We do know there will be a Mello Roos, but we understand it will be small. You’d probably be safe to assume a total tax rate of 1.45 – 1.5%. Williams Ranch is going to be amazing and probably one of the best new developments we’ve seen in quite some time!

    1. Hi James,

      Sorry, there is not yet any information available for the property located at 28360 Floret Lane, Santa Clarita, CA 91350. Skyline is a new community and it will be a while until this info is available in the county records. If you have your own agent, or if working directly with the builder’s seller’s agent, they should be able to at least provide you with a percentage of the sales price.

  25. Hello everyone!

    We’re BACK! If anyone needs a Mello Roos amount, you are welcome to leave the necessary info in a comment. I’m usually able to respond within 1 business day. Often, it’s just a few hours.

    Thank you for your patience! As some of you know, I had to suspend providing local Mello Roos amounts while I finished migrating this new website to replace the old one. If you’re new to the site, the main attraction here are the many community reports. We have published reports on nearly every community in SCV. Each community or neighborhood includes our photo galleries, a video and our own first hand local info. Of course, the site includes much more so be sure to have a look!

    Best,
    Pete

    1. Hi Jason,

      The Mello Roos amount for the property at 28525 Pietro Dr, Valencia, CA 91354 is approximately $2,625 annually. Information provided comes from the LA County Tax Assessors office.

  26. Hi there! Looking for the Mello Roos amounts for these two properties:

    21833 Propello Dr, Saugus

    19775 Elizabeth Way, Canyon Country

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Charley,

      First, according to the records on file at the county, there is no Mello Roos for the property at 19775 Elizabeth Way.

      The property at 21833 Propello Dr, Saugus, CA has a Mello Roos of $1,769 annually.

    1. Hi Anoop,

      According to the records at the county, the Mello Roos amount is $3,848.38 annually. Because it takes a bit of time, we only provide expiration dates to our clients. However, since the Arden Place address is in the newer Five Knolls community, the expiration date is very likely a good number of years off in the future.

  27. Hi Seven,

    Regarding the Mello Roos amount for 29340 Via Milagro Valencia, CA 91354, the amount is not clearly defined. Looking at the county records, we believe the approximate amount is $3,000 annually. If you need this exact amount try contacting the country directly.

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