Allegheny County property assessments (sales, assessors, home)

[zman63]

What is wrong with this county? Im all for lowering taxes for business, but this is insane....

Some Allegheny County commercial property owners win big cuts in assessments | TribLIVE

[Copanut]

Big money always pays off the politicians.

[greg42]

What the heck are those properties worth north of a billion dollars?? A couple are $2-3 billion. Wow.

[robrobrob]

With regard to Allegheny Country Club I am sure that they had an appraisal. I know of a few country clubs that were way over assessed. Country Clubs aren't worth that much these days. The owners of most commercial buildings pay big bucks for an appraisal. So, the complaint should be that the assessments were lowered is that they were so far off to begin with.

Franky, what Chelsa Wagner is getting press for no reason. As I said most commercial properties get their assessments reduced because of an appraisal. So, she has no valid reason to complain about the assessment reductions.

In my opinion, appraisals are much better evidence than sales comps brought in by the home owner.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

With regard to Allegheny Country Club I am sure that they had an appraisal. I know of a few country clubs that were way over assessed. Country Clubs aren't worth that much these days. The owners of most commercial buildings pay big bucks for an appraisal. So, the complaint should be that the assessments were lowered is that they were so far off to begin with.

Franky, what Chelsa Wagner is getting press for no reason. As I said most commercial properties get their assessments reduced because of an appraisal. So, she has no valid reason to complain about the assessment reductions.

In my opinion, appraisals are much better evidence than sales comps brought in by the home owner.

Depends on the quality of the appraisal.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

With regard to Allegheny Country Club I am sure that they had an appraisal. I know of a few country clubs that were way over assessed. Country Clubs aren't worth that much these days. The owners of most commercial buildings pay big bucks for an appraisal. So, the complaint should be that the assessments were lowered is that they were so far off to begin with.

Franky, what Chelsa Wagner is getting press for no reason. As I said most commercial properties get their assessments reduced because of an appraisal. So, she has no valid reason to complain about the assessment reductions.

In my opinion, appraisals are much better evidence than sales comps brought in by the home owner.

I was thinking a little bit about country clubs (or golf courses in general), last night. I'm curious how the fact that it is a golf course factors into the appraisal, and whether, for example, that the overvaluation may have come into play if the assessors didn't account for the cost of maintaining the land as a course.

Basically, I'm wondering what the split between the value of the club (organization, business, whatever you want to call it) and the actual land value is. Keeping the two separate would be difficult, but would also be necessary to properly assess the value of the property (land + improvements)

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Depends on the quality of the appraisal.

Agreed.

But wouldn't you think that home owners "comps" are more likely to be misleading or off than an appraisal?

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

I was thinking a little bit about country clubs (or golf courses in general), last night. I'm curious how the fact that it is a golf course factors into the appraisal, and whether, for example, that the overvaluation may have come into play if the assessors didn't account for the cost of maintaining the land as a course.

Basically, I'm wondering what the split between the value of the club (organization, business, whatever you want to call it) and the actual land value is. Keeping the two separate would be difficult, but would also be necessary to properly assess the value of the property (land + improvements)

Over the last few years there have been a few golf clubs sold. They can find comps that way. Alternatively, I think an appraisal reaches a number based on the books of the club. Or perhaps the best use of the ground is for development.

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by zman63

What is wrong with this county? Im all for lowering taxes for business, but this is insane....

Some Allegheny County commercial property owners win big cuts in assessments | TribLIVE

“A government, for protecting business only, is but a carcass, and soon falls by its own corruption and decay.”
--Amos Bronson Alcott

[EggMaker]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

With regard to Allegheny Country Club I am sure that they had an appraisal. I know of a few country clubs that were way over assessed. Country Clubs aren't worth that much these days. The owners of most commercial buildings pay big bucks for an appraisal. So, the complaint should be that the assessments were lowered is that they were so far off to begin with.

I am certain lots of country clubs were over-assessed, including Allegheny's initial assessment -- but Allegheny of all places is certainly worth more than $5.4M.