Assessment Appeals: Look for Low Sales Prices that the Assessors Culled.

No. 898 Traditionally, assessors have culled sales prices that they think are too low to represent fair market value. In normal times, they may have been right. But not now. In the past four years, extreme low prices have been the market in many places — especially in lower priced areas. But the trend extends […]

Unexpected Consequences Department: Negative Home Equity is Boosting Prices.

Properties under water stay off the market. This deprives non-selling owners of comparable sales at true market value — lower than the mortgage in many cases. Short sales and sales by banks are often culled by assessors as not being representative of the market. Sometimes they are wrong — those low values ARE the market.

Reassessment Appeal Tip

No. 876 If the comparable sales listed by Assessment are fairly far away, search for lower comps close at hand. Start by looking at every property on the street where the subject property is located. Then try cross streets. This is tip is especially helpful when the comps are in a better neighborhood than the […]

And now, the Common Level Ratio for Allegheny County is . . .

No. 870 The Dog Days of Summer came early; Temperatures will be in the upper 90’s all week; and The annual Common Level Ratio computations from the State Tax Equalization Board have been announced. Allegheny County stands still at 1.17. That means that there has been only a 17% increase in the median sales price […]

The Assessment Picture Becomes More Complete.

No. 813 Yesterday, the South Hills 2013 assessment values were posted on the County’s website. The Eastern suburbs were posted earlier. With the majority of the County up, the big picture is starting to become clearer. Check out your assessment at this link. Take the new value and divide it by the old value. If […]

Reassessment 2012: Watch out for the Flipper.

Flippers haven’t been much in evidence lately, but keep an eye out for their handiwork, because they can play havoc with assessment values.

Reassessment 2012: Getting all of the information requires logging into two web pages.

The Allegheny County says that assessment numbers to be used in 2013 and comparable sales are now available on the County’s website, but only for City and Mt Oliver properties. Other areas will be posted in coming weeks.

Reassessment 2012: Look at the Court Ordered Reassessment Website for New Values and Comps.

No. 798 This morning the County downloaded City and Mt. Oliver values and comps on the new website entitled “Court Ordered Reassessment Values.” Check it out. CLT

Reassessment 2012: New Values, perhaps but no you-know what.

No. 794 According to the Trib, the new values for 2013 (remember, assessment changes are on hold at 2011 levels for 2012 taxes) are posted on the County’s assessment website for the City of Pittsburgh and Mt. Oliver. We’ll have to take the Trib’s word for it. The page just says 2011 — the […]

2012 Reassessment: Hearings Begin, But Where Are the Comps?

No. 790 This morning hearings began for the 2012 reassessment. I asked everyone I could when the comps (sales of comparable properties) were going to be posted on the website. Nobody knew. Why do I care? Well, it would be nice to know the comps upon which the outrageous valuation of my client’s property was […]

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Welcome

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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