Local property assessments fighting national trends on The Murfreesboro Post

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Local property assessments fighting national trends

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Sunday, July 19, 2009 6:33 am

Murfreesboro resident Jeff Bratcher doesn’t know why his home has increased in value in a year when headlines scream about declining home prices.

“I’ve been double hit in a recession,” Bratcher said, referencing the recent property tax increase. “I don’t know how I became so lucky.”

In April Bratcher received notice from the Rutherford County Property Assessors office that his home was worth more than previously thought.

According to the property assessor, his home on Haddington Circle in Murfreesboro is now worth more than $479,000, which is $100,000 more than the previous appraisal.

Bratcher said the fair market value is closer to $380,000 and information from a comparative market analysis backs up his claim.

When compared against similar homes in the past year sold across the entire county, his home should be worth closer to $380,000. The price drops even more when compared to homes in his and surrounding neighborhoods.

Tennessee’s Director of Property Assessments David Sherrill said local assessors offices are working constantly to keep property data correct.

“It’s a major, complex process to get data as correct as possible …” Sherrill explained.

Sherrill said assessors look at every thing from the size of the lot and desirability of the area to how a building is constructed and improvements.

In a previous interview, Rutherford County Property Assessor Bill Boner said appraisers are currently comparing the state of individual properties against county records, adding improvements and correcting errors.

“All we’re trying to do is make sure everything is fair and equal out there,” Boner said.

The records will then be compared against current market value in the entire county, not just recent sales to establish the property’s value.

The records are then compared with properties of similar size, age, location, and description to complete the appraisal, Boner explained.

“They (Rutherford County’s assessors) are doing a lot of good, but they’ll never get it perfect,” Sherrill said.

If a mistake is made, property owners can appeal the assessor’s findings.

“It’s the only tax where you can call and talk to those who deal directly with the tax,” he said, saying owners can usually call the property assessor and get an explanation about why the value was raised. If homeowners aren’t satisfied, they can appeal to the local property assessor, then the county commission and finally the state’s comptroller office.

“It’s a very open-handed, straight-forward process,” Sherrill said. “Anyone that finds a mistake can get it corrected.”

Bratcher said he took his complaint to the Rutherford County Board of Equalization on June 1.

“They listened but it was like they were listening with a deaf ear,” he said.

The board told him the property was previously undervalued and that’s why he received the correction notice. The board agreed to lower the appraisal from $490,000 to $479,700.

“The house is just like any other,” he said, adding the only improvement to the home in the past year was adding a wood-burning fireplace.

“They are saying now that our property (value) has increased by $100,000,” he said.

He can appeal the new appraisal when he receives a letter with the new appraisal, but he said he hasn’t received the letter yet.

“I cannot sell it for $380,000 and they say it’s worth $490,000,” Bratcher said, adding the new appraisal adds another $1,000 to his annual tax bill.

While property values in Bratcher’s neighborhood and in certain areas of the country have declined in the past year, overall Murfreesboro and Rutherford County’s real estate market has faired the economic storm well.

“Rutherford County is a healthy county,” Sherrill said, explaining values here aren’t declining as much as other parts of the nation.

There are foreclosures in certain areas and it’s harder to sell a home in a short amount of time, “but there’s still a lot of property selling,” he said.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

More info …
Rutherford County Property Assessor’s office
615-898-7750 or assessor@rutherfordcounty.org

Tagged under Bill Boner, Jeff Bratcher, RuCo, Taxes

Member Opinions:

By: bota on 7/19/09
It sounds like our property taxes are going up.

By: Geana on 7/19/09
Very obvious thought, bota.

By: archosignis on 7/19/09
That seems kind of convenient, they vote to raise property taxes, and now all of the sudden appraisals skyrocket?

By: Lynniek2160 on 7/19/09
I wonder if the people will put up with it - they probably will.

By: Curious on 7/19/09
This is a case that makes it worthwhile to pay to have an independant appraisal done. That's what I was told a few years ago by the assessors office.

By: ahhhdude on 7/20/09
Boner is going to be a one race pony.

By: abide on 7/20/09
Increasing values and the tax rate means double money to waste.

By: Jessy on 7/20/09
This is Bill's feather in his hat. He started this as soon as he won the election. Property value was up and he saw a way to make the county some money. The problem is the market tanked half way through, and they didn't adjust for it. Why should they, after all we owe it to them :o). It's to hard for them to make cuts (new desks, office remodel, vehicles, etc.) in running their offices. As for us we can do without to make up for their short comes.
FYI: I love this country and would not live anywhere else. That's the great thing about the USA, you can voice and try to change the wrongs that are out there. " We the people" Sometimes I think we forget what that stood for.

By: RonB on 7/20/09
I can hardly wait 'till the next election. I voted for Boner, but it won't happen again!

By: kjhoop on 7/21/09
Yes, Boner will be in office one term only. THere is not a home in the county that has gone up in value with the economy the way it is, yet the assessors have raised them along with property taxes. I own a small business and wish I could keep spending as freely as the city and county do. I have yet to hear how the county or city is cutting any spending. I do not have the option of stealing taxpayers money to keep my business running, the government shouldnt either.

By: Farmall on 7/21/09
You have to remember the nightmare that Boner replaced. I haven't got my new appraisal yet, I can hardly wait. If it is up one penny you can bet I will be the first in line at their kangaroo court, I mean their board of equalization. Because you have to go there before you can take your case to the state.

By: UnionLady1055 on 8/4/09
Why don't you check out Bonner house? It is all public record.

http://www.rutherfordcounty.org/assessor/