The Board of Equalization to which you may escalate the appeal of your real estate assessment is supposed to be independent...I feel that I have a good case under a uniformity appeal but want to know if it's just a kangaroo court or not.

I'm getting fucked over too on my primary and a few rentals I own. Appealed and no luck on any of the appeals. I have had some rentals listed for sale at under the assessed value with no luck. It's fucking bullshit, they send me "comparables" yet they are comparing my crappy rentals with nice completely renovated homes. Just because the bed/bath count are the same doesn't mean it's worth the same amount. Some people spend $50k in renovations and spend thousands more staging the house, in addition they pay all closing costs which makes the price seem higher than it really is.

I appealed several years ago and got 90K dropped from my assessment based on comparables in the region. They will come and do an in person appraisal. They also lowered assessments for several other houses on my street as well.

Just tell them you're black. That will drop the price and they may recommend you for financial assistance.

When they call you in to speak with you in person, just paint your face black. That might even get a write-up in the local paper.

A black family in the neighborhood immediately drops property value. If they move in next door, you might as well foreclose.

WRONG - they are delaying you hoping you'll loose time and be unable to file a lawsuit

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Fairfax County Government assesses your real-estate. You have to quickly mediate it with them and if that fails (and noting who caused failure), you take Fairfax County Government to court.

That is what the laws say.

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car / auto EXAMPLE for the dimwitted

a well known dealer rips you off. Fairfax County Gov (who knows the rich political poeple who own the dealerships) tell you to file a complaint with the Agriculture Deptartment.

(this is not a made up story: this has happened hundreds or thousands of times confirmed)

These people get bullshitted for months. When they finally learn they must take the dealership to court: the fairfax county courts say "sorry you filed too late"

and "sorry we are not responsible for poor legal advice"

that's how this town does business

exactly as you'd expect criminals to "do business"

now a question: what do you do if you have a legitimate dispute

fairfax county refuses to mediate

fairfax county skips court

fairfax county puts the full ammount to credit agencies and files leins against you even though they know full well they've skipped the legal process

then what would You do?

> then what would You do?


I would call up or send a PM to my buddy svennestle, I know he has lots of experience in dealing with the courts around here.

I wiuld like to see how many property owners challenge and win. it would be telling how accurate the assessments are.

Have my answer now. Waste of time to appeal a residential real estate assessment up to the Board of Equalization. BOE sides with the Fairfax County Real Estate Assessors office. No incentive to reduce a residential assessment and have to make up the revenue elsewhere. Homeowner has no recourse anyway, except a legal suit.