How Accurate Are Home Values In Property Tax Assessments?
Every home owner must pay a tax
for their home and this value is assessed by a city official. The tax is the
percentage of this assessed value. Each city or county has its own rules for
assessing property values, from year to year,
However, popular Team Front Range realtors will tell you that the value of the
property in the tax assessment document does not always match the appraised
value or the fair market value of the same property. Here is why:
1. Tax Assessment Values Are Updated on an Annual Basis
Property prices can fluctuate a
lot during a single year. A lot of factors cause these fluctuations, including
the volume of offer and demand. However, tax assessments take place only once
every year. Thus, the value of the property as per the tax documents may not be
the same as the fair market price or the value assessed by a professional
appraiser.
2. The Tax Assessment Does Not Take Market Trends into Account
Some areas become very desirable
overnight if a large corporation opens offices nearby. This means new jobs and
many potential developments in the near future. Tax assessments will only take
into account the general neighborhood – for instance areas in distress have
lower property taxes.
3. Tax Assessments Do Not Count Most Amenities and Home Improvements
When a realtor states the price of a property for sale, they will point out the renovations, energy efficient improvements, landscaping and other amenities. Tax assessors do not include these elements in their evaluation, because they are not part of the instructions they must follow.
