Tax Assessment/Appraisal: How Do I Know What My Home is Worth?

If you are in the home buying or selling market, it’s important to understand the difference between tax assessment and appraisal value. Concentrate on the appraisal value because this determines your asking price.

Understanding Tax Assessment The tax assessment is a tool local governments use to exact a property tax rate on residents. The local government determines your home’s worth by reassessing the homes in the area you live in periodically. Some areas reassess every 2-3 years. But with today’s booming real estate market, the National Association of Realtors estimates 60-70% of U.S. tax assessments do not reflect the escalating market value on home sales. This is why the tax assessment is not always an accurate gauge of true home worth.

Tax assessment offers a general idea of home value. If you are curious about whether your tax assessment office is keeping up with the local market, telephone your local real estate board and local tax assessment office. Ask them about the local appreciation value on homes to determine if they are up-to-date.

Focus on the Appraisal Value Home sellers should concentrate on the appraisal value, because a mortgage lender will write a loan on the home for this amount. Location is the prime factor in appraising a property. An appraiser will look at three homes that sold during the previous three-month period to determine what similar properties have sold for in the same neighborhood. If your home is in a rural area, or if the sales in your area have been sluggish, the appraiser can go within a five mile radius to locate similar homes for comparison. If there is home value inflation in the area, the appraiser will factor this in. A good appraiser will contact the realtor who sold the homes he or she is using as a comparison.

What Do Appraisers Look For? An important rule of thumb of real estate is: location, location, location. Appraisers are mainly focused on the following to determine home worth: - square footage - condition and age of the home - location - lot size - number of bedrooms - number of bathrooms - total number of rooms - garage(s) - decks - screened porches - fireplaces

Secondary Enhancements Help a Home Sell There are other bells and whistles the appraisers may factor in, but their impact on home value is marginal. Although these improvements do help the home sell, they do not impact the appraisal significantly.

Here are some examples: - ceramic tile - hardwood floors - crown molding - chair railing - specialty counter tops, cabinetry - sprinkler system - wainscoting - upgrades in light fixtures - upgrades in faucets, sinks, tubs and showers - swimming pool