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Search2007 Property Appeals – Deadline Looming
If you are a homeowner in Highlands Ranch you most likely received the tax valuation of your home. If you did, you most likely noticed a steep increase in the valuation of your house and therefore an increase in the estimated tax rate. Personally I do think this is not correct. Market values are stagnating and house sales prices are either flat or decreasing, but not increasing. High inventory of home builders, high number of foreclosures, and rising interest rates in 2006 are not really ingredients that make for rising home prices.
My own home now has a new tax value of $248,000.00! Well, if the county can find a buyer for that price I will sell instantly. That would be a great deal. The truth is that I would most-likely have to settle for something in the $225K or $230K range. $248K would have been even the top house sales price for comparable houses in my area. The highest sales price for a house with the same age and square footage was $241,900 in 2006. And that was in early 2006 when the market had not fully decided yet which way to go. So, I decided to fight the tax valuation of my house with the county.
If you feel your house tax valuation is wrong, too be aware that you have only a couple more days left to file an appeal. Appeals need to be filed by June 1st of 2007. The great thing is – you can do it online. All you need is the “2007 Real Property Notice of valuation” (taxpayer copy). You will need the account number and the security code that is printed to the form. Then go to http://www.douglas.co.us/assessor and file your appeal online. Once you are logged in you can start the appeal. There is an option to search for comparable house sales in your neighborhood. Within 10-15 minutes you should have easily identified 3 properties that you can use to manifest your appeal. Most sales prices you will find will be much lower than the tax valuation that was set for your own house. Add that to your appeal and write a small letter with the appeal. Explain that your house should be valued for less due comparable sales prices being much lower. Also point out the market conditions in 2006 and explain negative things that lower your property value compared to the ones you picked to support your appeal.
Once you submit your appeal you will see a summary. Make a screenshot of it as you will NOT receive an email confirming your appeal submission.
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