Assessment Value vs. Market Value & Why Understanding The Difference Matters

We have been receiving questions about assessment value on properties, particularly as homes are selling for higher and higher values. It can certainly be confusing, but there is a difference between market value and assessment value, and we're here to help clear it up!

First, let's define assessment value and market value. Assessment value is the amount that a home is assigned for property tax purposes. We reached out to the Knox County Auditor's office to learn more about the process of assigning this value to a property, and they were very helpful! Every three years in Knox County, a property's assessment value is evaluated and updated. But what does that look like?

Well, every six years, properties are evaluated and updated on an individual basis. Every three years, the market itself is evaluated, and values are updated. So, the assessment value of a property gets updated every three years.

It's important to understand that an auditor does not enter the property being evaluated. They rely on MLS data that has been published in the past, including published photos. This information is especially helpful for them to get an idea of added finished living space— think finishing a basement or an attic, as that would certainly add value to the home.

Per Ohio revised code, the assessment value cannot exceed 90% of its actual market value. With market conditions as they are currently, the Knox County Auditor's office believes that percentage looks more like 70% in the county, and there is a lot variation between individual properties.

You're probably getting the idea by now that assessment value and market value are not the same thing. In fact, assessment value doesn't really matter much in the market, it really only matters for property tax purposes. Market value, however, matters a great deal because it is what an individual is willing to pay for the property. For this reason, when you're evaluating a listing, market value of comparable listings is much more relevant data than assessment value. So, why is there confusion?

The assessment value of a property is public knowledge— it can be found on the Auditor's website. For some buyers, this can feel like helpful information when evaluating whether or not they would like to pursue an offer on a property, as well as how much to offer for it. And it is helpful information, just not in the way you might think. It's helpful because it gives you the ability to forecast your future tax payment, it's not helpful as evidence that a property is over-priced. The reality is that this market is still competitive, and buyers are willing to pay much more than the assessment value for a property (and remember, that value is often only up to 90% of the property's actual market value).

Might other buyers be overpaying for properties? Possibly. If they are, though, it's for an entirely different reason than the fact that the assessment value and the asking price don't match up.

So when you see the assessment value of a property you might be interested in, remember that this value might be somewhere around 70-80% of the market value (if you're in Knox County). If you're questioning the value of the property, the best way to find clarity is to ask your agent to perform a Comparitive Market Analysis (CMA) to see what other individuals are paying for similar homes in the area.

I hope you find this information helpful! We would love to hear from you, so don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you may be having about the current market!

Until next time,
Cassie Johnson
Key Realty - John Yoder Team