Jackson County thinks my property is worth what??$$???!!!!

Does Jackson County think your home is growing in value?

Judging by the rumblings I am hearing, the biennial notices from the Jackson County Assessment Department are hitting mailboxes. If you are a property owner in Jackson County, MO, you should receive one of these notices in odd numbered years.

No matter what the assessment notice says, the recipient is generally shocked by the market value that has been assigned to their home. Most of the calls I have been receiving are from people who think the market value of their home is estimated by the county to be too high.

The market value of homes is used to calculate an assessed value, which is then used to calculate the amount of property taxes that will be owed at the end of the year. The assessed value is multiplied by the mill levy of the taxing district in which the property resides. Those tax dollars are used to fund a myriad of local services, most notably (usually more than half), the local school district.

BLAH BLAH BLAH....Bottom line is if your market value goes up, it is likely that your tax liability will also increase.

If you are shocked by the market value you are seeing for 2019, you are not alone! These increased values are a byproduct of the increased sales prices we have enjoyed the past two years. While we all like to know that our investment is gaining value by virtue of the sales market, it is a hard pill to swallow when it hits our pocketbooks in the form of higher taxes.

The question to ask is "Is the market value for 2019 reasonable?" There are a couple of ways to figure that out:

1) Go to an online service like Zillow. What does it give as your "Zestimate"? Is it close to the Market Value assigned by the county? If so, look at a couple of your neighbor's homes. Are their values similar to yours? Are their homes similar to yours? If so, the county probably got it pretty close or they have messed up your whole block or neighborhood. This might be enough to satisfy you and you can know that at least your property value is going up...not down. Save some extra cash, You are going to need it at the end of the year when the tax bill comes due.

2) Call a local Realtor. OK...call me! I would be happy to consider the increase of your property and can usually let you know pretty quickly if it is reasonable or not.

After taking these steps, if you still believe that your 2019 Market Value is too high, you can appeal your value with the county by asking for an informal review before June 24.  You can start the process by going to  www.jacksongov.org/review. There is an online form to complete. You will need the parcel number and PIN that is on your Reassessment Notice. Once you have completed the form, download or print the form and either email, mail or fax it to the assessment department. You will need to provide written support for reducing your market value. That support could be nearby home sales or a recent appraisal on your property. A Realtor can also provide you will some sales comps that could help your argument.

I am always available for your questions. Please call, email or text me or submit them to me here: http://www.realtyexecutives.com/Agent/Cindy-Curd/Services