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Function of the Real Estate Assessment Division
The Office of Real
Estate Assessment is responsible for the reassessment of all real estate
within the County of York and receives its authority from the
Code of
Virginia and the
Code of the County of York. Our office maintains a
Property Information Look-up System listing information about all real property within the
county. In this database we maintain all information pertaining to your
property. We list characteristics such as land size, size of buildings,
the age of structures (if known), sewer and water availability,
topography, zoning, etc. We encourage all property owners to review their
records and
contact
us if you have any questions.
In accordance with the
Code of the County of York,
we are required to conduct a biennial reassessment. Every two years we
conduct a general reassessment of all real property within the county.
Property information is continually updated and new values assigned. The
effective date of each reassessment is January 1st of each even numbered
year. The next general reassessment will take effect on January 1, 2010.
Our office is required by
the
Code of Virginia
to value all real estate at 100% of its fair market
value. Fair market value is generally accepted to be the price paid by
a willing buyer to a willing seller, neither of which is unduly motivated
to complete the transaction. Fair market value is determined by analyzing
current activity in the real estate market. Our appraisers continually
review sales activity within neighborhoods (areas of reasonably comparable
properties) and use those transactions as guidelines to establish assessed
value. Whenever real estate changes ownership in the county, the transfer
is concluded with the recordation of a deed of transfer in the Courthouse.
Deeds of transfer are also considered public information and are available
to the public by visiting the Courthouse in Yorktown Village. Information
pertaining to transfers is incorporated into our database, the sale prices
verified, and the results compiled, giving an indication of market value
within a neighborhood or market area. The Code of Virginia also requires
that similar properties shall have a similar assessment. This requires our
office to assign similar assessed values for like properties.
The
Code of
Virginia requires that reassessment notices be mailed to the owner of
record for each property in the county, after the reassessment is
completed. On this notice we list the owners name, legal description,
property address, and the new assessed values. The notice also has
instructions for contacting our office if you have questions regarding how
the new assessed value was determined.
The Code of
Virginia also allows for periods for review of assessments. We list on the
reassessment notices, the dates that administrative reviews are conducted
by our office. During this period you may contact our office to make an
appointment to meet with the appraiser responsible for determining values
in your area. The Code of Virginia also allows for a second step in the
review process. This involves a hearing before the Board of Equalization.
This board is comprised of three individuals that are citizens of the
county, nominated by the Board of Supervisors and appointed by the Circuit
Court. The Code of Virginia also requires that at least thirty percent of
the members of the Board of Equalization be knowledgeable real estate
professionals. All members of the Board of Equalization for the County of
York are active real estate professionals. This panel has the legal right
to review and make changes to values assigned by our office. The Code of
Virginia also allows for a third step in the review process. This involves
a hearing before the Circuit Court.
Property sales information is updated
Monthly . Property owners are able to
get information relating to the actual transactions that our appraisers
have used to determine the assessed value of their property. We also find
that individuals intending to locate in York County use this information
to determine the price that they are willing to pay for property. Other
professionals (such as realtors, insurers, appraisers, lenders, surveyors,
title companies, etc) also contact us daily to get information relating to
real property within the county.
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