bentleyWIRE | blogged

If you feel your home has decreased in market value over the past year or so, be certain to claim your benefit.

We're advising all of our clients to take a close look at their property's assessed value as calculated by your county assessor.  If you feel the market value is less than this figure, then it's your right to appeal the assessed value with the county assessor's office. I personally completed an appeals form a month ago and mailed it in indicating 4 or 5 comparable homes within a 1/2 mile radius which sold for considerably less than my assessed value within the past 1 year.  I'll be certain to let everyone know the results of the appeals review. However, I'm highly confident that it will be reduced amounting to a savings of at least $500 in property taxes per year.

I'd say that was well worth the 15 mins to print, complete and mail the form. Most county assessor's offices will have their own webpage you can Google. Come back and let us know how you fared on your request for review.

Here's a recent article from the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_6290554?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1