It’s common for both buyers and sellers to have misconceptions when it comes to the assessed value and market value of a home. These two terms are not the same, and in fact, they are quite different. Let’s look at the differences between assessed value and market value when it comes to real estate.

What is Assessed Value?

In order to understand the assessed value of a property, you have to know who is doing the assessing and why. Often, this value comes from municipalities or counties placing a value on the property for tax reasons.

The assessor will look at similar properties in the area and what they sold for while making adjustments for differences, along with improvements. They may also look at any income you make from the property for renting out a room, along with a few other factors.

The value the assessor comes up with will be the assessed value of the property. This is used by the local government to figure out how much you will pay in taxes each year.

What is Market Value?

The market value of a home is figured out by a real estate agent. The agent will look at comparable properties and what they have sold for recently. The goal of the agent is to figure out the most probable price the home will sell for on the open market today.

Real estate agents will look at many factors other than just similar homes that have recently sold. They will also look at external and internal characteristics of the home, the location and the supply and demand of the market.

Often the market value is used as the starting point for listing the home. It’s a value assigned by a real estate agent that has taken the emotion or attachment of the seller out of the equation to assign a real market value to the home.

The Differences Between Market Value and Assessed Value

The market value of a home may rise and fall depending on the conditions of the local market. However, the assessed value will remain more immune to the market fluctuations. In fact, in some states, the assessed value can only rise or fall by a certain percentage per year.

Since the assessed value of a property is mainly used for property taxes, it’s not necessary to worry so much about it, if you’re selling or buying a home. Instead, you want to pay attention to the market value, and later on in the process, the appraised value of the home.

I would love to be part of your journey when the time is right for you. If you ever have a real estate question or need, or know someone who does, trust that you can turn to me 704-650-5707 | annagrangerhomes@gmail.com.