Aha! An interesting little legal change going into effect July 1 (which will impact local real estate tax assessments beginning Jan 1 of next year): The burden of proof in Assessment Appeals will be lower.
After January 1st, localities will have specific burdens to provide you with evidence of their reason for reassessment of your VA properties. Further, if you appeal an assessment you no longer have to provide "clear and convincing" evidence (80%+ convincing) of a lower valuation... you only need to provide a "preponderance" of evidence (51% convincing).
If you've ever challenged your assessment you probably know it wasn't too terribly hard to get it changed. But, now it's going to be even easier.
Wow. I have to wonder how this will impact our overall county budgets. I guess we'll have to stay tuned. In the meantime, if you'd like to keep tabs on the market in your neighborhood, check out this great web site. You can order an automated monthly report showing you sales in YOUR neighborhood.
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