They say nothing is certain in life but death and taxes. When you’re a homeowner, that statement includes property tax–and potentially paying more of it if your property’s value is re-assessed by the county auditor’s office.
While counties vary in how and when property values are re-assessed, most have a process that takes place at least every five to eight years. You’ll know it’s underway when you receive notification from the county auditor’s office by mail. If you’ve been paying taxes on the inflated home values that dominated the market before the housing bubble burst, your notification may actually lead to a lower tax payment.
Nevertheless, despite the continued lull in the housing market’s recovery, some homeowners are receiving news from their county auditor that property values are slated for an increase. As a result, property taxes go up, too. Here is an explanation of your options if you are notified that your home value has been reassessed to an amount higher than what you believe the property is worth:
Your Options
All counties allow the option for homeowners to react to reassessed values, whether up or down. Start by doing a little sleuthing of your own, and use your county auditor’s website to research the home values of similar properties in your neighborhood (this information is free and public record). Gauge the “going rate” in your market by researching comparable home sales in your neighborhood, ask neighbors what value the county auditor has newly proposed for their property, and explore sites like Zillow and Trulia.
Once you’ve gathered real value data, compare it to the new figure your country auditor has determined—and keep in mind that short sales and foreclosed property figures are typically not considered as a valid form of value comparison. If you still feel confident that there is a discrepancy between the “real” and reassessed value of your property, Marsh Bilby of Marsh Bilby Appraisers & Consultants, LLC says the first step is to understand how the appraisal process works, and the potential costs that it carries.
Unlike the home inspection that was conducted when you bought your property, Bilby explains that appraisal is actually based on a math-appraisal technique using statistics-based evaluation models, and at times, walking audits in a neighborhood. The appraiser will likely never see the inside of your home in determining the appraised value, but instead bases the figure on a variety of data points like square footage, county information, and the other fees that accompany a home sales transaction, like tax and title, real estate and broker fees.
When considering challenging a property reassessment Bilby advises using a simple cost-benefit analysis approach, much like you would when considering whether or not to refinance a property.
Costs and Savings to Consider
Start by figuring the difference between what you feel the value of the home is, versus the reassessed value proposed by the county. For example, if your home’s proposed “new value” is $300,000 but you believe that it’s worth $225,000-there is a sizeable discrepancy of $75,000.
Counties use a “millage rate,” or the amount per $1,000, to calculate taxes on property. To analyze your unique situation, you’ll need to identify the exact millage rate for your area. For the sake of example, assume that a millage rate of two percent for the above scenario. The $75,000 discrepancy in value would lead to an annual property tax increase of about $1,500, if the homeowner choses to accept the reassessed value. You should also consider any special exemptions that you qualify for, such as homestead exemptions, or owner-occupied exemptions, which vary by homeowner situation and location.
Once you’ve run the basic numbers, consider how long you plan to live in the property to determine whether the proposed new amount is worth challenging. In the scenario above, a homeowner who intends to live in the home for the next five years would potentially pay about $7,500 more in property taxes. If you decide to move forward once you’ve considered the long-term costs, the next step is to seek a qualified, licensed appraiser.
Bilby says that a typical appraisal fee is around $400, and could potentially be higher for complicated properties, like those with pools or located on a waterfront. Bilby also stresses the importance of finding an appraiser who has several years of experience, and understands that the property is being appraised because of a new county auditor value. Securing an appraiser who is well versed in challenging county auditor appraisals is critical, as it may be necessary for the appraiser to accompany you to county auditor board hearings, to defend the results of his or her appraisal, and reasons for the variance from the county’s value.
Bilby says to keep in mind that you have no way of determining the outcome of contesting a reassessed value (and that the fewer comparable properties there are, the less certain the answer becomes). Should the county decide that their figure is accurate—you’ll have spent at least $400 for an appraisal, in addition to any additional time that the appraiser will bill for attending any required auditor hearings and preparatory fees- but still pay more taxes. On the other hand, not contesting an amount you believe is unfair could lead to paying thousands more dollars in taxes.
If you do intend to sell in the next few years, it’s also important to understand that your property value as determined by the county won’t play much of a role in terms of your sale price. Should you contest the value and win a lowered home value with the auditor, but your neighbors accept the higher value, you won’t be “haunted” by the lower value down the road. Bilby says that a true real estate professional will recognize that there are a lot of inaccuracies in the process, and will use many data points to determine the fair market value of a home.
John Marcotte 720-771-9401
boulderhomes4u.com
RE/MAX Alliance
Distributed By: Mint Life
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