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Okay, I moved from LI, NY where there are rules, regulations and new taxes for anything and everything in a house. Now living in the wild, wild west where people more or less do what they want. This seems to extend to the assessor's office and my 1940 bungalow fixer.
R.E. sites have different figures for my house's size. Zillow says it's 1221 feet, while others say it's 934 feet. Lot size is consistent.
In the back I have a jerrybuilt laundry room that doesn't appear up to code. My neighbors have similarly shabby looking addons. I doubt anyone got a permit to build these things.
The assessor was here after I grieved my taxes (as I brought my LI ways with me). He stated the measurements were correct. I didn't see him measure anything.
My questions:
Are assessors able to measure with their eyes, or is it simply indifference because this is the land of manana?
Am I obligated to pay taxes on an addition that was built without a permit?
If the r.e. sites draw info from public records, why do they list two different sizes?
If the true size is 934, and I'm being taxed on 1221, could I get a rebate?
The addon has a steeply sloping floor, a low ceiling and a 5'5" exit door. Funny that the assessor saw this and didn't mention the unusual construction.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Be careful what you ask for. The county hires the assessor but also the building code enforcement people. Your formal complaint could result in additional inspections and you could be forced to bring the house up to current codes. That would cost you a lot more than the difference in taxes between 934 and 1,221 SF.
That's what I was thinking. Likely this could backfire on you.
Assuming it is an unpermitted addition, they aren't just going to say "Whoops, good catch, we won't tax you on that part!" They are going to make you remove it or get it up to code and still pay taxes on it.
Don't confuse assessor with inspector. I'm not sure what your question or rant is. Do you want to have the poorly executed addition included in your house's assessment and increase your taxes? Do you want to be told you have to remove the non-compliant (if truly non-compliant) addition?
The addon has a steeply sloping floor, a low ceiling and a 5'5" exit door. Funny that the assessor saw this and didn't mention the unusual construction.
Apparently where you live this is pretty normal.
Now if I owned a house with a suspect and possibly unpermitted addition...I wouldn't be asking for anyone from the guvvamint to come around to have a look at it.
That's what I was thinking. Likely this could backfire on you.
Assuming it is an unpermitted addition, they aren't just going to say "Whoops, good catch, we won't tax you on that part!" They are going to make you remove it or get it up to code and still pay taxes on it.
I intend to have it rebuilt in any case, as the space is far too small and the construction is weird and sloppy. Looks like it may have been built by the owner and his buddy. I had one floor flattened elsewhere.
As a refugee from the taxalicious Town of Hempstead, I was wondering if I should even bother getting a permit for the new build. Doubtfully my neighbors got one and it's unlikely the current laundry room has one.
My earlier complaint got me a tax drop of about $200, and was already pretty cheap. The taxing office is not so aggressive here because manana, manana.
Now if I owned a house with a suspect and possibly unpermitted addition...I wouldn't be asking for anyone from the guvvamint to come around to have a look at it.
Yeah, it is.
They were already here a couple of years ago and didn't care. My neighbors' additions are also visible and they don't care.
My taxes go up about $50 a year.
Last edited by manekeniko; 03-31-2021 at 01:14 PM..
It should be pretty easy to figure out the approximate SqFt - measure around outside walls and take out garage and porch space if not heated - (in NM they are included if heated). You are supposed to get permits for alterations and improvements if structural.
But if taxes are minimal - the extra SqFt is worth more when sell than cost in taxes. Most places only include enclosed spaces in the measurements.
Okay, I moved from LI, NY where there are rules, regulations and new taxes for anything and everything in a house. Now living in the wild, wild west where people more or less do what they want. This seems to extend to the assessor's office and my 1940 bungalow fixer.
R.E. sites have different figures for my house's size. Zillow says it's 1221 feet, while others say it's 934 feet. Lot size is consistent.
In the back I have a jerrybuilt laundry room that doesn't appear up to code. My neighbors have similarly shabby looking addons. I doubt anyone got a permit to build these things.
The assessor was here after I grieved my taxes (as I brought my LI ways with me). He stated the measurements were correct. I didn't see him measure anything.
My questions:
Are assessors able to measure with their eyes, or is it simply indifference because this is the land of manana?
Am I obligated to pay taxes on an addition that was built without a permit?
If the r.e. sites draw info from public records, why do they list two different sizes?
If the true size is 934, and I'm being taxed on 1221, could I get a rebate?
The addon has a steeply sloping floor, a low ceiling and a 5'5" exit door. Funny that the assessor saw this and didn't mention the unusual construction.
Depending on where you live, you weren’t text per square foot. Your tax on price. What you paid for the property is what makes your tax payment. I’m in California and that’s how we do it. It doesn’t matter if your house is 15,000 ft.² or 1500 ft.² if you paid 1,000,005 for it that’s what you get taxed on.
Depending on where you live, you weren’t text per square foot. Your tax on price. What you paid for the property is what makes your tax payment. I’m in California and that’s how we do it. It doesn’t matter if your house is 15,000 ft.² or 1500 ft.² if you paid 1,000,005 for it that’s what you get taxed on.
Here my house is taxed on comps. I'm gonna get out the ruler and calculate the true size of the house.
LR I already know is 264 sq. ft with a vaulted ceiling. I got this place cheap and made some high end improvements. Taxes will stay low because of the comps when I bought in 2017.
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Solly says — Be nice!
