2013 assessments - do we have a case? (mortgage, house)

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

BTW, is there any way to find out the overall millage increase for a borough or township? I didn't see these values on the county site.

If you mean the total assessed value increase, it was calculated and published in the Post Gazette after the eastern wave, and I assume will be for other waves as well:

Fairness questioned in new assessments for eastern suburbs

[Bong477]

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

These new assessments are messed up. My house was built in 2006, with the neighbors being built between 2002 and 2010. My new assessment is $10k less than the purchase price, and I've done about $50k worth of permitted improvements to the place. All of my neighbors places are the same way. I didn't see a single one that was at or above purchase price. Overall assessment still went up $20k, but so did all of my neighbors. It seems like they just picked a number and added it on to every house in the plan.

BTW, is there any way to find out the overall millage increase for a borough or township? I didn't see these values on the county site.

It would be nice if there was transparency in how these values were calculated. What do you expect though?

I posted my experience already, our new assessment was 25% more than what we just paid for it a few months ago (which was at a similar price to the indepedent appraisal value). That 25% difference would translate into roughly a 10% increase in our monthly mortgage payment compared to paying taxes on the price we paid (assuming around a 2.5% tax rate in the city of Pittsburgh which I think will be the ballpark we end up in). It won't force us into foreclosure, but its not trivial and something we will notice. If we hadn't just bought the property, it would be pretty hard to fight and we'd likely end up eating the extra expense or hiring a lawyer and eating that expense instead. Screwed either way... again, in the interest of "fairness."

I'm waiting to see what our other (now a rental) house in Ross appraises for, we recently refinanced it this summer so I have an indepedent appraisal for that one too.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Bong477

It would be nice if there was transparency in how these values were calculated. What do you expect though?

I posted my experience already, our new assessment was 25% more than what we just paid for it a few months ago (which was at a similar price to the indepedent appraisal value). That 25% difference would translate into roughly a 10% increase in our monthly mortgage payment compared to paying taxes on the price we paid (assuming around a 2.5% tax rate in the city of Pittsburgh which I think will be the ballpark we end up in). It won't force us into foreclosure, but its not trivial and something we will notice. If we hadn't just bought the property, it would be pretty hard to fight and we'd likely end up eating the extra expense or hiring a lawyer and eating that expense instead. Screwed either way... again, in the interest of "fairness."

I'm waiting to see what our other (now a rental) house in Ross appraises for, we recently refinanced it this summer so I have an indepedent appraisal for that one too.

You don't need a lawyer and you can skip the informal appeal. Scan the appraisal and sales agreement and email it to the county. They will adjust the value accordingly.

[gg]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

If you mean the total assessed value increase, it was calculated and published in the Post Gazette after the eastern wave, and I assume will be for other waves as well:

Fairness questioned in new assessments for eastern suburbs

Wow, look at Oakmont and Verona. They are in the same school district. The wealthier Oakmont residents are going to be really taking a hit there.

It is an interesting study. I mean if you tax Shadyside at purchase price they would have some wildly high tax bills. Of course everyone can afford that $14K a year, right? Why not? Then you look at a home in a very poor area with some super low assessment like $14K and it goes up to $20K. The tax bill is still a few hundred bucks, so not much harm.

[Bong477]

Not to be argumentative, but can you provide any evidence that this will actually be effective? And where it should be sent to?

[gg]

Originally Posted by Bong477

Not to be argumentative, but can you provide any evidence that this will actually be effective? And where it should be sent to?

You mean this reassessment? No one can really prove it will happen at this time. It probably will though. Nothing is 100% on this stuff. How many delays have taken place so far? Will it go to 2014? 15? Never? Who knows?

[Bong477]

Sorry, no, that was directed at Copanut's response that you just need to scan your appraisal and sales agreement and your assessment will be adjusted accordingly.

[Copanut]

You can call the assessment office and ask for the email address, I believe it is this:

appeals@county.allegheny.pa.us


Check on your assessment notice, I believe it might be there. The informal appeal is merely handing over information that you deem necessary to make your case, no final decision is made at that hearing. The info will be reviewed and a decision will be made at a later date. Again, call and confirm the email address.

With a recent sales agreement, assuming it is arms-length, it will be a slam dunk.

[PittsburghLlama]

Originally Posted by CaptainPittsburgh

I think I've posted this a bunch of times by now in various threads, but I'm in a similar position. I took the sales agreement and independent appraisal that was done at the time of purchase to my informal review, and the folks at the assessment office indicated that there is a very good chance that my value will be decreased significantly, possibly to exactly reflect the purchase price (which was the same as the assessed value in the independent appraisal).

So, if what they told me is reliable, and you have an independent appraisal to go along with the sales agreement, yep, you probably have a very good chance. Did you schedule your informal review? If not, here's the link:

Informal Reviews

I'd also schedule a formal appeal too, just in case. Better safe then sorry. Hopefully, you get a nice reduction straight away, though. It sounds like your reassessed value is way off. I'm shocked, haha.

I'd also recommend giving them a call instead of filling out the online form (the phone number is on that website as well). Calling to schedule only takes a few minutes, and at times they don't even check the online forms (someone at the office told me this). Good luck.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by PittsburghLlama

I'd also recommend giving them a call instead of filling out the online form (the phone number is on that website as well). Calling to schedule only takes a few minutes, and at times they don't even check the online forms (someone at the office told me this). Good luck.

What office? Where you work or the county office?