2017 Property Value Notices Mailed And How To Appeal

The King County Assessor's office released this information:

2017 Property Valuation Notices Are in the Mail:  Values Continue to Rise Across King County

 

The King County Assessor’s Office has begun the annual process of mailing valuation notices to over 700,000 property owners. Notices will continue arriving to property owners through September. 

In most areas of the county, property values are up again this year. Higher valuations, however, do not necessarily translate into higher property taxes, said Assessor John Wilson.    

“Most people don’t realize that the fluctuating value of your property has less to do with changes in your tax bill than do measures approved by voters,” said Wilson. “Decisions made by voters, in terms of approving special levies; and by elected officials in terms of adopting budgets, determine the total amount of tax to be collected in your area; the value of your property determines your share of that total amount.” 

Wilson continues to encourage property owners to sign up to receive their annual property valuation notice via email instead of through the USPS. This electronic valuation notice program is convenient for property owners, will save money for the Department of Assessments, and is environmentally friendly. To sign up, go here and click on the "Go Paperless" window for details.  

Property owners who believe their assessment may be incorrect, can appeal to the Board of Equalization (BOE). This must be done within 60 days of receipt of the 2017 valuation notice. Details are available here.   

State law requires each county assessor to revalue property annually, and to conduct an on-site physical inspection of each property at least once every six years. Property values are determined by certified appraisers who assess property based on comparable sales, various attributes of a particular property, and/or income generated by the property.

 

 

Assessor’s Office Conducting Physical Inspections Of Properties In Neighborhood Through March

Appraisers from King County's Assessor’s Office are currently conducting physical inspections of properties (existing residences, residences under construction and vacant parcels) from Sheridan Beach to Laurelhurst through March.
 
The information says:

Appraisers generally conducts physical inspection from 7:00 AM to 4:00PM four days per week, Monday thru Thursday and are identifiable by their County ID badges.  

The Assessor’s Office annually values over 700,000 properties in King County, and physically inspects 1/6^th of all properties.

This annual process allows appraisers to verify and update any property characteristic changes that might have occurred since the last physical inspection.  

To determine property values, The Assessor analyzes sales and market trends within the area or similar market areas.  The analysis includes properties with a variety of features such as lot size, house square footage, year built, quality of construction, view, and other characteristics.  

The 2015 assessment is an appraisal of the property as of January 1, 2015 based on a valuation model which is created from the market sales in the area.  Washington State law requires that the Assessor produce a land value separate from the improvement value (an improvement is considered to be any improvement to the land such as a new or existing house or any accessory item).  

The Assessor’s Office sets property valuations. It does not set taxes, and there is not an automatic percentage increase correlation between your property value increase and future property taxes.

King County taxpayers who need advice and assistance with property tax related matters, including appeals, should contact the King County Tax Advisor at 206-477-1060 or by email at taxadvisor@kingcounty.gov. Property owners with questions for the Assessor’s Office should contact us at 206-296-7300 or email assessor.info@kingcounty.gov.   For information on your property go to eReal Property Search at www.kingcounty.gov/assessor.

City's App "LocalScape" Shows Detailed Property Data Information



The King County Assessor’s office recently launched LocalScape, a new property data portal that integrates property data with other data such as neighborhood values, sales, permit, Census, and education information. 

It is powered by a collection of data from the US Census Bureau, King County departments and local governances throughout the county.

Users can click through a wide variety of data layers and widgets to see information on local districts, property appraisal, census tract demographics, school attendance zones, and land uses.

Information which can be queried:

Area overview including census data

Assessed property values by address or Parcel ID

Appraised values, including 10 years of media values

Recent sales, including highs, lows and averages

Area schools

Permit info

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara said of LocalScape:

In 2014, King County was the second fastest growing urban county in the nation and neighborhoods are redefining themselves at varying speeds as the region rebounds from the economic downturn.    

LocalScape leverages the power of spatial technology to integrate Assessor property data with a range of critical data streams and illustrate a rich landscape of information for taxpayers, policymakers, media, and users Countywide.

The Assessor’s Office was established in 1853 and annually values more than 700,000 properties throughout the County. The Assessor is responsible for calculating the property levy rates for all 161 King County districts.

For more information go here.

2015 Property Value Notices Mailed And How To Appeal



 

 

Last month, the King County Assessor's office mailed the 2015 property valuation notices for Area 46 – Sheridan Beach to Laurelhurst.

The information says:

The King County Assessor’s Office annually revalues all properties and conducts a physical inspection of each property once every six years.



The 2015 property values are set as of January 1, 2015, and assessed at the full market value based on sales of comparable properties in the same area.Residential properties increased 9% on average; however, individual property values may vary




Property owners have 60 days after the mailing date listed on the property valuation notice to file an appeal of their assessed value with the Board of Appeals/Equalization. The Board is an independent body, separate from the Assessor’s Office, and is comprised of King County residents like yourself.





The Assessor’s Office sets property valuations. It does not set taxes, and there is not a dollar-to-dollar correlation between your property value increase and future property taxes. King County taxpayers who need advice and assistance with property tax related matters, including appeals, should contact the King County Tax Advisor at 206-477-1060 or by email at taxadvisor@kingcounty.gov. 

 

LocalScape, a new interactive app launched by the Assessor’s Office, tracks area and individual property value changes online, along with a rich landscape of neighborhood data including census, education, permits, and sales. 

Residents can track property value changes specifically for Area 46 – Sheridan Beach to Laurelhurst residents here. Individual property value history is available by selecting the “My Property” tab.

 

Property owners can receive future valuation notices electronically via email using the six-digit EVN code printed on the front of the postcard. Owners can also scan a QR code from the card with a mobile device to pull up property information on eReal property.

 

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