My New Blog

If you purchased a home in Orange County since January of 2002, you may want to go to http://www.ocgov.com/assessor/ and fill out a form asking the assessor to review the value of your home. It generally requires 3 comparable properties--recent sales of homes similar to your home and located relatively near your home. 

This year the assessor's office is stating that the comparable properties are not "mandatory"  but I highly encourage that YOU provide them--don't leave it to the assessor (call me crazy, but I wouldn't rely on a government entity that benefits from taxing you to provide you with the best comparable sales). 

Any real estate agent, appraiser or broker can help you with comps---including me.  You can reach me at (714) 863-5485 or johnsonlaw@sbcglobal.net

One final word of advice, you can click on the link to see if the assessor already plans to review your property. If so, you still may want to fill out the form so you have the opportunity to provide the comparable properties.  It could make a significant difference on the assessed value if you provide the comparable sales information rather than waiting to see what the assessor's office pulls up.

If you miss Thursday's deadline, do not panic--assessed values are mailed out in July and you have until September 15, 2009 to appeal if that value is too high.  

Melinda

(714) 863-5485 or johnsonlaw@sbcglobal.net