How much does King County say your property is worth? New notices going out

If you own property, your new valuation notice(s) will arrive sometime in the next few months. And prepare yourself for possible jumps – the areas of King County where the average valuation has gone up double digits, the county assessor says, include these:

· Boulevard Park / White Center – 18.6%
· High Point / Highland Park – 15.8%
· Eastern West Seattle – 13%

Here’s the full news release (and note the part about appraisers – the county doesn’t want you to be startled if one visits you):

The King County Assessor’s Office has begun the annual process of mailing valuation notices to over 700,000 property owners. Notices will continue arriving to property owners through September.

In most areas of the county, property values are up again this year. Higher valuations, however, do not necessarily translate into higher property taxes, said Assessor John Wilson.

“Most people don’t realize that the fluctuating value of your property has less to do with changes in your tax bill than do measures approved by voters,” said Wilson. “Decisions made by voters, in terms of approving special levies; and by elected officials in terms of adopting budgets, determine the total amount of tax to be collected in your area; the value of your property determines your share of that total amount.”

Wilson continues to encourage property owners to sign up to receive their annual property valuation notice via email instead of through the USPS. This electronic valuation notice program is convenient for property owners, will save money for the Department of Assessments, and is environmentally friendly.

To sign up, go to kingcounty.gov/assessor and click on the Go Paperless window for details. Paperless notifications saves taxpayer dollars in staff time, materials and postage.

Property owners who believe their assessment may be incorrect, can appeal to the Board of Equalization (BOE). This must be done within 60 days of receipt of the 2017 valuation notice. Details are available (here) – the BOE (is here).

State law requires each county assessor to revalue property annually, and to conduct an on-site physical inspection of each property at least once every six years. Property values are determined by certified appraisers who assess property based on comparable sales, various attributes of a particular property, and/or income generated by the property.

You can also check your county-determined property value online via the King County Parcel Viewer.

19 Replies to "How much does King County say your property is worth? New notices going out"

  • WsEd May 31, 2017 (2:38 pm)

    The county want$ that money.  Get ready for your tax bill to go up,

    Agaaaaaain.

    • WSB May 31, 2017 (3:27 pm)

      Your property tax bill is administered by the county but the money also goes to the state, the city, and various other taxing authorities. If you follow the Parcel Viewer to “your property tax bill” you can find out more.

  • Franci May 31, 2017 (3:36 pm)

    Here is a resource if the assessment is too high and the property tax peeps insists it is correct..

     http://kingcounty.gov/depts/assessor/Property-Valuation-Appeals/Tax-Advisor.aspx

    Its been about 20 years – but I received a huge jump in my property value one year – property tax peeps  insisted it was correct.  Through independent research I found out about the Tax Advisor’s office and was able to speak with someone there and they actually asked me some questions like – Did you make any improvements to your home?  Well no – it turns out that somehow my parcel # was recorded as having had a 1/2 story improvement  added to the house.  That had not happened.  They were able to correct the problem and send a new valuation.

  • Craig May 31, 2017 (3:54 pm)

    Thanks China.  

  • Trickycoolj May 31, 2017 (4:45 pm)

    They’ve already dinged High Point double digits 3 years in a row! 

    • Trickycoolj May 31, 2017 (4:55 pm)

      2013-13%

      2014-13%

      2015-8%

      2016-18%

      now another 15%?! I already got a large shortage letter from my bank for this year’s taxes.  My annual raise is only 2.5%-3% and that’s on a good year!

      • Joel May 31, 2017 (8:14 pm)

        what’s this raise word you speak of?  English please….

        • John June 1, 2017 (12:13 pm)

          @Joel…..  That cracked me up.

  • Peter May 31, 2017 (5:40 pm)

    Yeah, I WISH my house cost as little as the tax valuation. But thanks for the tax break, KC!

  • Joel May 31, 2017 (8:13 pm)

    BOOMING economy – the city, county and state should all have hefty rainy day funds but instead they are broke and we have another 6 (and counting) tax proposals coming up.

    they are worse than the person who hits the lottery for millions and is broke in 2 years.  Seattle population increasing by 58 people per day – that’s a lot of new tax revenue.

    • Swede. June 1, 2017 (5:33 am)

      But that only works if all those 58 are big fans of consumerism, since that’s the only tax that will apply. Will get burden with high rent till they might find a super overpriced house, and that might not leave much to spend, and then it’s easier to use their employer, amazon, to buy online/out of state anyways. 

  • Eric1 May 31, 2017 (8:15 pm)

    The bright side is that if you have endured 5+ years of tax increases,  you could sell you house and make some serious bank with housing prices likely twice what you put in.  You couldn’t buy anything here but you could probably buy a house with the profits somewhere else if you were so inclined.

    .

    All in all though, it is still cheaper than income taxes.  It isn’t like your property taxes will go down if the state/county/city institutes an income tax.  I just wince and write the check as it is not likely the total tax bill will be any lower in some other state.  At least here, I don’t have to file income taxes.

  • AmandaK(H) May 31, 2017 (9:38 pm)

    Want to gentrify a neighborhood? Price out the low and fixed income folks by raising their property taxes.

    • Swede. June 1, 2017 (6:46 am)

      Double sided sword there since it also ‘prevents’ medium income people (of all colors might I add, since you mentioned ‘gentrification’.) to actually buy anything too. 

      I’ve been curious now for quite awhile where are all the people that actually can drop $100-150000 for down payment and then $5-6000/month mortgage work!? 

      • John June 1, 2017 (12:16 pm)

        @ Swede…  I completely agree.  Where are these people getting the money to buy a home here in Seattle???  Their salaries must easily be in the 6 digits.  I’ve been working for 30 years and no way could I afford a home today.

    • Swede. June 1, 2017 (4:01 pm)

      That’s the same problem that Vancouver BC have…

  • Toomuch June 1, 2017 (4:23 pm)

    What if you ask for a re-evaluation, and it comes back even higher than proposed increase? Will the new value be applied? Did I just shoot myself in the foot..!?

    • Swede. June 1, 2017 (7:39 pm)

      Ooh you know they are going to go for the higher amount. Guaranteed. A bit of a gamble there…

      It’s pretty common I learned when working in Alaska that people remodel there homes but never really finish them on the outside. That way not only does it look like crap, a.k.a. lower value/tax but they have some kind of exemption for actually paying property tax during ongoing renovation… So no tax ever if you don’t ever finish! 

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