Santa Clara County (practical, field-level breakdown)
Based on title reps, recorder data patterns, and agent-level transaction mix:
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Trust ownership (primary + revocable living trusts):
~45%–65% of all SFR resales -
LLCs / entities:
~5%–12% overall
(higher for investment properties, new construction buyers, and higher price points) -
Individual names:
~30%–45%
By price segment (this is where it gets more useful for you)
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Under $2M:
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Trusts: ~30%–45%
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LLCs: ~3%–6%
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$2M–$5M:
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Trusts: ~50%–70%
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LLCs: ~5%–10%
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$5M+ (Los Altos Hills, Saratoga, Palo Alto, etc.):
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Trusts: 65%–85%+
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LLCs: 10%–20% (sometimes higher if it’s a secondary residence or new build)
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There’s no single statewide figure that’s perfectly tracked, but based on title company data, county recorder trends, and industry estimates:
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Roughly 25%–40% of California home purchases are taken in the name of a trust
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LLCs and other entities account for a much smaller share, typically 3%–8% of residential purchases
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In higher-end markets (e.g., Los Altos Hills, Atherton, Beverly Hills), trust ownership can exceed 50%–70%, and LLC usage is more common
What this means in real numbers
California sees about 350,000–450,000 home sales per year (varies by market conditions). Using that:
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Trusts: ~90,000 to 160,000 homes annually
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LLCs/entities: ~10,000 to 30,000 homes annually
Key drivers
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Trusts: estate planning, avoiding probate, privacy
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LLCs: liability protection, investment property structuring, privacy (more common with rentals, second homes, or ultra-high-net-worth buyers)