Investor 路 Houston, TX 路 Member since 2014 路 128 posts 路 87 votes
We have a property in Birmingham (actually Center Point; Jefferson County) and just got a tax appraisal bill that valued the house 18% higher than last year. I've read some news that says that Jefferson County is using a new appraisal method and many values went way up. We want to protest the increase, and we have experience protesting tax appraisals. But we are not finding many good comps on Zillow to build our case. Any recommendations of other places to find comps? Or other news sources that talk about the actual increase of home values for Jefferson County? Other ideas?
Investor 路 Birmingham, AL 路 Member since 2016 路 315 posts 路 206 votes
7y
I am all ears. I don鈥檛 have an answer yet but some of these inflated prices of TK sales really don鈥檛 help the comps in the area. A property in Hueytown is up 22% wow 馃槸.
Investor 路 Birmingham, AL 路 Member since 2016 路 315 posts 路 206 votes
7y
According to a couple of guys I have talked to say it鈥檚 a game they play locally every 2-4 years. I had to do this in 2012. Your are going to have to get your real estate guy to put some comps together to compare recent sales. It will cost you about $100-$150 per house to contest. You won鈥檛 get what you want but more than likely it will get reduced for the next 2-3 years. You will probably break even the first year and glad you did it the next 2-4 years after. They are going to raise it to what they want. You can鈥檛 use foreclosure comps. That鈥檚 my game plan good luck jp
Rental Property Investor 路 Birmingham, AL 路 Member since 2013 路 46 posts 路 9 votes
7y
John Patton- you are right if it was up 100%+ it is due to Rental Class = no homestead. Definitely get an abbreviated Appraisal if you are going to Protest. We have a person in the REIA that does them for $150 and he is Certified Appraiser. Most likely going to be defeated without it imo. Birmingham has heard how far below we are verses other cities on property tax they are BOUND to get them up to higher levels. Our REIA is submitting a Bill to have Tax Assessor position ELECTED instead of appointed next year. John see you Monday at 6 - one of the items we will discuss in this 17% increase.
Investor 路 Houston, TX 路 Member since 2014 路 128 posts 路 87 votes
6y
Thanks for the input, everyone. We are planning to protest the increase. So far, the only useful information we have found is an article that said that general housing prices in Birmingham went up at 4%last year.
Los Angeles, CA 路 Member since 2016 路 29 posts 路 9 votes
6y
@Ann Howell Do you mind sharing the link to the article stating the 4% increase? Do you plan on submitting an online request or a written one? I would really like to protest too, but not exactly sure where to start..