Who is the public official responsible for keeping records of transactions that affect real property?

The public official responsible for maintaining records of transactions that affect real property is the recorder. This role includes documenting various types of documents, such as property deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements, thereby ensuring that the public has access to crucial information about property ownership and encumbrances. The recorder's office plays a key role in establishing a chain of title, which is essential for legal clarity in real estate transactions.

Other options, while related to property, serve different functions. The assessor is responsible for determining property values for taxation purposes, assisting in the appraisal of real estate but not in maintaining transaction records. The registrar typically oversees the registration of documents but may not specifically handle the recording of property transactions in the same comprehensive way as a recorder. A surveyor focuses on measuring land and delineating property boundaries, which is necessary for development and legal purposes but does not involve the maintenance of transaction records.