How To Calculate The Assessed Value Of Your Home – Here’s All You Need To Know

A popular question among homeowners deals with their home’s assessed value:  why is the property assessed at a lower value than the asking price? By understanding the differences between the tax assessed value and the appraisal of your home, it is possible to calculate the assessed value of your home.

1- What Is Assessed Value of a House
2- How is Property Value Assessed
3- How to Calculate Assessed Value
4- Assessment vs Appraisal
5- Appraisal Process Work
6- Assessed Value
7- Appraised Value
8- Fair Market Value
9- How to Challenge Assessed Property Value

What Is the Assessed Value of a House?

The assessed value of a house is typically determined by the local government for the purpose of calculating property taxes. The assessment process involves comparing the subject property to similar properties that have recently sold in the area, taking into account factors such as size, location, and amenities.

However, it is important to note that the assessed value is not necessarily equal to the market value or the price for which the house could actually be sold. In some cases, homeowners may contest their assessment if they believe it to be inaccurate.

It is also important to keep in mind that even though a property’s assessed value may change from year to year, this does not necessarily mean that its market value has also changed accordingly.

Ultimately, understanding a home’s assessed value can help inform financial decisions such as budgeting for property taxes and determining how much homeowners insurance may be needed.

How is Property Value Assessed?

When it comes to determining the value of a property, there are several factors that come into play. One key aspect is the market for similar properties in the area. Are comparable houses selling quickly or having difficulty finding buyers?

This can affect the perceived value of a property. The location also plays a role – properties in desirable areas, such as close to good schools or with easy access to public transportation – will typically have higher values.

The condition of the property itself also has an impact on its assessed value. Broken appliances or structural issues can decrease a property’s value, while recent updates and high-end features can increase it. Ultimately, property value assessment is a combination of market trends and individual factors.

How to Calculate the Assessed Value of Your Home?

Determining the assessed value of your home is important for understanding property taxes and making financial decisions.

Here is how to calculate the assessed value:

1. Start by finding the market value or what a buyer would be willing to pay for the property in its current condition. This can be found through a professional appraisal or by comparing recent sale prices of similar properties in your area.
2. Next, determine your jurisdiction’s assessment ratio, which is typically around 50%-60% of the market value.
3. Finally, multiply the assessment ratio by the market value to find the assessed value of your home.

 

Keep in mind that this number may differ from the actual market value, as it depends on local regulations and assessments done by government officials. By following these steps, you can accurately calculate the assessed value of your own property.

How To Calculate the Assessed Value of Your House Using A Formula?

To calculate the assessed value of your house using a formula, you will need to know the market value and the assessment rate. Once you have those two values, simply divide the market value by the assessment rate to find the assessed value.

Assessed Value Of Your House = (Market Value of Your House x Assessment Rate) / 100

What Are Some Other Ways To Calculate The Assessed Value Of Your Home?

1. Compare your home to others in your neighborhood using resources like the National Association of Realtors’ Home Values tool.
2. Ask your real estate agent or a professional appraiser to give you a comparative market analysis, which will help you understand how your home’s assessed value stacks up against others in your area.
3. Use a house price index calculator to see how the assessed value of your home has changed over time.
4. Hire a professional appraiser to conduct a full appraisal of your home and give you an accurate estimate of its market value.

When Is The Property Assessment Performed?

There is no fixed time for performing the assessment, but in most cases, the house assessment is completed by the local tax assessor’s office every five years. However, the assessment frequency can vary depending on where you live.

Assessment vs Appraisal – What’s The Difference?

When it comes to valuing a property, there are two common terms that often get thrown around – assessment and appraisal. But what exactly is the difference between tax assessment vs appraisal?

First, a property assessment is typically done by a local government or municipality to determine a property’s value for tax purposes. This value is often based on comparable sales of similar properties in the area.

An appraisal, on the other hand, is usually conducted by a licensed professional for various reasons, including establishing a mortgage loan amount, estate planning, or divorce proceedings. They will also consider factors such as location and improvements made to the property in addition to comparable sales.

So while both involve determining a property’s value, it’s important to note that assessment and appraisal serve different purposes.

How Does The Appraisal Process Work?

Compared to the assessment process, the appraisal is a bit more intense. You must have the property appraised if you’re going to refinance or buy a house. This is because the appraisal will provide the exact fair market value of the property and will provide the lender with a prospective home loan amount.

An appraisal considers many more criteria than an assessment; these criteria include:

• The number of bedrooms
• Roofing material
• Window composition
• Whether or not the house has a chimney
• Construction materials used (e.g., marble countertops, hardwood floors, etc.)
• Insulation type
• Architectural style
• Whether or not the house has a basement and if it’s finished
• Location
• Foundation type (e.g., concrete slab, crawl space, etc.)

Who Requests Appraisals?

Lenders usually ask the borrower to get an appraisal so that they can have a detailed understanding of the property before approving the loan amount. Lenders evaluate the borrower’s loan application based on the property’s market value, the overall condition of the house, and the surrounding area.

Difference Between Assessed Value, Appraised Value, And Fair Market Value

People often misunderstand assessed value, appraised value, and fair market value. The terms are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between them. We’ve broken down those differences for you below:

Assessed Value

 

What is it? Valuation of the property every year.
What does it do? Evaluates the property’s value for tax purposes.
Who calculates it? A tax assessor from the property’s municipality.
What are the factors that determine the value? Assessment rate, market value, and the appraised value

Appraised Value

 

What is it? Most acceptable estimate of the property’s worth.
What does it do? Assists in determining whether the home’s price is accurate, which is then used by lenders for loan purposes.
Who calculates it? A professional appraiser calculates the value after completing a thorough inspection of the property’s interior and exterior.

What are the factors that determine the value?

• Sales and value of similar properties
• Present market conditions
• Neighborhood
• Size
• Home improvements
• Construction type
• Utilities
• Appliances

 

Fair Market Value

 

What is it? The expected price of a property on the market.
What does it do? Determines the value of a home.
Who calculates it? The seller and their real estate broker calculate the value.

What are the factors that determine the value?

• Sales and value of similar properties
• Present market conditions
• Neighborhood
• Size
• Home improvements
• Construction type
• Utilities
• Appliances

 

As you can see, appraised value, assessed value, and fair market value all serve the same purpose – they determine a home’s value. But the meaning and purposes that they serve are different. For example, the assessed value is used for tax purposes, while the appraised value is used by lenders when determining loan approval.

How To Challenge The Assessed Property Value

If you are convinced that your property has been valued inaccurately after receiving your annual property tax bill, you can contest the assessment by taking the following steps:

• Inspect the information on the assessment report for accuracy. Pay particular attention to data related to your home’s square footage and the number of bedrooms.
• If you can, compare your tax statement with your neighbors’. Report any inaccuracies to your local tax assessor’s office. You can also hire a property appraisal professional for around $450 to $550 to complete a property assessment.
•  If you are still not satisfied with your property valuation after inspecting all the data, call or meet with your local tax assessor to discuss your concerns and request another valuation assessment. You typically have up to 30 days to challenge the assessed value, but that will vary depending on where you live.
• You also have the option of appealing the assessed value to an independent board. You can hire a lawyer as well, but it is not required. However, you will have to pay a filing fee should you choose this option. Due to the high number of appeals, most appeal requests take up to a year to be heard by the board.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – everything you need to know about how assessed values are determined. Keep in mind that your municipality may have slightly different rules or calculations, so it’s always best to check with them directly if you have specific questions. Of course, if you ever have any trouble understanding or calculating the value of your home, our team at NY Rent Own Sell is always happy to help!