[Chat] Propery Tax hearing

[echalmers at mindspring.com]

If the property tax increases people are appealling are anything like mine, I am unsure what the basis of an appeal would be. My property is worth around $250K, and the assessment--admittedly high in dollar amounts--is being raised from $80K by $3K each year for the next 3 years. Yes, my taxes will be higher, but I also have a huge equity in the house. I am unsure what I could argue, although of course I would like to keep my taxes low. 

The problem as I see it is that the tax rates themselves are so high that it's almost impossible to get a fair calculation of what the assessment should be. If our houses were assessed at market value, none of us--and almost no one else-- could afford them. Thus they are assessed at 1997 rates, and who knows what is fair. The state could make the process a whole lot simpler by lowering the rates and using more market-based assessments. I think that may be what Martin O'Malley wants to do.

Emily

-----Original Message-----
From: John Spurrier <jfspur at hotmail.com>
Sent: May 3, 2005 8:03 AM
To: Chat at charlesvillage.info, Discussion at charlesvillage.info
Subject: RE: [Chat] Propery Tax hearing

Didon,

I appealed my assessment recently with mixed results. I chose to appeal 
because there were
mistakes on the property information sheet for a building that I recently 
purchased.

I would suggest that if you haven't done so already, get a copy of the 
worksheet for your house.
Also, try to locate other similar properties with lower assessments that are 
more in line with the condition of your property that can be used as 
comparables. Then get copies of the worksheets for those addresses.

Is it the new assessment that you are appealing? Aren't you subject to the 
4% cap for increases?
Regardless of the amount of the new assessment, your increase should be 
limited to 4% each year.

I brought photographs that indicated property conditions the assessor 
couldn't possible know about.
They offered a slight reduction which will save me a few hundred dollars 
over the next three years.
Since I had recently purchased the building at a great price, it was hard to 
persuade the hearing officer that the property was worth less than I paid 
for it.

Good luck!

John

p.s. if you need help with comparables, let me know.



John Spurrier
Your LIVE BALTIMORE Preferred Realtor
(410) 433-7800
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jspurrier at cbmove.com



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