The DeKalb County tax assessor has released the 2013 values and the assessment notices are dated May 28, 2013. With the Georgia mandated 45 day appeal period this makes the property tax appeal deadline July 12, 2013. The DeKalb County tax assessor has instituted a new online appeal option. If you visit their real estate data search page and input your name, address, or parcel ID number you will find your property description, and an option to file your appeal online. You will need the access code found on the bottom right of your property tax assessment notice in order to complete the online filing. 

We haven't heard any screaming yet due to large increases in taxable value as there were last year. Last year the neighborhood I live in was cut about 35% and there wasn't any complaining about it, except from those that were trying to sell their houses and thought the the DeKalb County tax assessor's values would have an impact on what potential purchasers would offer. I hate the think that there are people out there that actually think that the tax assessor is so correct that it sets an upper limit on value. 

Today we are looking at the trend in office values in the Atlanta metro area. Based on information from LoopNet sale price per square foot has been on an uptrend for approximately six months. The median sale price at the start of this year was approximately $70/SF.

The Georgia tax assessors are sending out 2013 tax assessment notices and it is time to take a look at Atlanta commercial real estate values. Below is the sale price per square foot trend for retail real estate in metro Atlanta. It appears we are still bouncing along the bottom:

It is almost property tax appeal time again in DeKalb County GA. The DeKalb County tax assessor will be sending out 2013 property tax assessment notices soon. One of the DeKalb County appraisers told me a week ago that the envelopes were in but they weren’t quite ready to print the assessment notices yet. DeKalb County tax assessor is implementing a new mass appraisal system this year. This is a computer assisted mass appraisal system, which stores all of the property data and also has several different approaches to value built in so that they can appraise the property. It remains to be seen if they will get the property tax assessment notices out soon, or whether it will be a little later in the month. Last year DeKalb County tax assessor notices went out at the end of May.

The DeKalb County Board of Equalization is still holding hearings on 2012 values. They will probably continue holding hearings on 2012 values even after the 2013 values have been mailed. I think things at the DeKalb County Board of Equalization or moving along nicely, though. Compared to last year, going to the Board of Equalization is a dream. The past two years the hearings have been on a first-come-first-serve basis. Last year when you showed up early for a hearing you found scores of other people already there in a sweltering hot room. This year the Board of Equalization hearings appear to be moving along a little better and they are not scheduling nearly as many people on the same day.

You asked for the best and you got it! Property tax appeal options. In our continuing efforts to be the property tax appeal resource center we have established several options for single family residential property tax appeals. We know that some of you don't have the time or resources to develop a property tax appeal case and aren't all motivated by the same cost/benefit profile. As a result of numerous inquires on what we charge, and the desire for other payment options, we now have four different single family residential tax appeal services options.

For those that are averse to contingent fees because you dont know, ultimately, how much you will pay, we now have a Gold Level flat fee option. For a one-time $350 fee Fair Assessments will perform the work it is known for. Regardless of tax savings generated there are no additional fees (unless you want to file your appeal to court).

The Gwinnett County tax assessor was first out of the gate in 2012 when their notices were released on April 6, 2012. It remains to be seen whether they will be the first out again in 2013, but my guess is yes! (Update, they were!) It is officially tax time here in the great state of Georgia and everyone in Gwinnett County should be on the lookout for a 2013 property tax assessment notice. I know that last year people in the Gwinnett County tax assessors commercial section were saying that they thought their full service hotel values were too low, so I think you may see those rise.

If you're like many office building owners you pass through many of your expenses to your office tenants. Many of you probably prorate the property tax and send it on to each of your tenants. Although property tax changes based on the millage rate and the assessed value of the property, property taxes are considered a fixed expense. However, if you can get this fixed expense reduced you may be at a competitive advantage compared to your office building competition.

Of the major commercial property types in the Atlanta area office buildings have the highest vacancy rates at over 20%, according to Realty rates.com. This means there are tens of millions of square feet of office space available throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. Office tenants that are flexible on where they are located have an opportunity to save money by changing their location.

After working with a lot of different people in the property tax consulting business I’ve come to the conclusion that the best people to do this type of work are those that are former tax assessor employees. Having a solid understanding of the mass appraisal process that the tax assessors use is a great advantage when you are working with tax assessment personnel and trying to negotiate a lower value. Being able to relate to the County assessment staff, understanding what their job is, understanding the parameters that they need to work within, and what you can and cannot do if you want to keep their trust is vital.

 I can’t say that I’ve worked for every board of tax assessors in the world but I have worked for two different counties both Fulton County, Georgia, and Prince William County, Virginia, so you could say I know the property tax assessments, and appeals process inside and out. Having been the commercial appraiser manager for Fulton County, Georgia Board of Tax Assessors provides insight into the regular day-to-day operations there.  When I walk into county tax assessment departments and can talk to the county appraiser and let them know that I used to do exactly what they do, that develops instant rapport.

The DeKalb County property appraiser is known as the Chief Appraiser for the DeKalb County Board of Tax Assessors (BTA). Click here for a DeKalb County property appraiser. Together, the BTA and Chief Appraiser administer the functions of the DeKalb County tax assessment office. The tax assessment office is responsible for valuing all of the real estate and taxable personal property for the purposes of taxation. This is also known as ad valorem tax, where ad valorem is Latin for “according to value.”

I have been appealing property tax assessments for ten years now. One thing I am sure of about a property tax appeal is you never know what you are going to get. Market value is in the eye of the beholder, and every beholder has an opinion. 

An appraisal is an opinion of value. Hire two licensed appraisers to value your real estate and they will both inspect your property inside and out. They will scour the market for the most recent, comparable sales. They will agonize over the reconciliation of the data to select the most likely price you property will bring in the open market. You will most likely get two different value opinions.