Assessing a property asking price

[Account Closed]

I’m looking at a property on Zillow, the asking price is 158,999. However when I looked at the tax assessment on there for the property it listed as being assessed for 59,000. The property has been gutted down to the studs which means total rehab! I’m not going to buy it because I’m new and don’t want to take this on as my first job. My question is: when there is such a dramatic difference in what it’s worth in the tax assessor office and asking price, which would you offer? I’m thinking I would offer 50k as a max because so much needs to be done.

[Aaron K.]

@Account Closed in most jurisdictions the assessments are below actual value, because if they aren't they get every homeowner in the county protesting their assessed value every time which the county doesn't have the resources to properly deal with.  Thus whenever a sale occurs they will assess at the sale price and then adjust up every reassessment period by an estimated amount.