Property Taxes too high? Fighting your assessment value in King County

A few weeks ago I received my 2009 King County Tax Assessment and was shocked by what I saw.  Can you imagine your assessment value increasing 10% in this market? Me either, but that is what the numbers said according to King County.  Granted my home was completely remodeled, including an addition, but that was 3 years ago and the housing market here is just not that good right now, especially if the assessed value is what they think I could sell my house for.   Being a real estate agent there is no way that I would list my home for the assessed value and not get laughed out of my office! So what can I do about it, I can fight it!

I visited www.metrokc.gov/appeals and printed out the petition paperwork that the county requires.  This paperwork must be completed by July 31st or within 60 days of receipt of your assessment if your home is new construction or a remodel.  Along with your paperwork, you must prove to the petition board that your home is not worth the current value listed as of January 1st of the assessment year (i.e. 2008) or as of July 31st of the assessment year for new construction or remodeled homes.  Although I am a real estate agent and have access to the Multiple Listing Service, this is still a daunting task to complete.  Knowing this I asked myself how I would do this if I wasn’t in real estate? The answer - I would not know where to start and would probably just give up.  You, however have us to help! There are many real estate agents who are willing to assist you with this process (keep in mind that it is time consuming and some agents may charge for this help.)  Due to the fact that King County is the only county within the greater Seattle area where property taxes have increased for 2009, the assessor’s office should be expecting an influx of petitions this year!

While I am not holding my breath that my assessed value will be corrected, I am feeling better that I am at least trying to do something about it! I will keep you posted on the progress as it occurs.  Good luck in your fight!

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