If you know the current

[UCGal]

If you know the current owners name you can check if there are liens against the place.

http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/grantorgrantee/search.aspx

That would be a good place to start.

You can look up the owners name (and find out whether there are back property taxes) from this website.

https://www.sdctreastax.com/ebpp3/(fbvk2bn0j131r0450qy1ts45)/Start.Aspx