St. Louis County Property Assessments Down from 2009

Overall, the value of residential, commercial and agricultural property in St. Louis County this year is down compared to 2009 estimates, County Assessor Jake Zimmerman said.

However, he was not able to provide specific numbers because the assessments are still preliminary. By law, final assessments are due by July 1.

“The amount of the decrease varies dramatically depending on the area,” he said. “For example, in some North County areas, we’ve seen values decrease by as much as 10 percent, while in the central corridor, values have only gone down by maybe 2 percent.”

He said the value of property can change drastically, even within a subdivision. He explained that the county uses mass appraisals and statistical information to determine the fair market value of the home.

“We look at what the house looks like now compared to the last time we visited and what comparable homes have sold for nearby areas in normal sale situations,” he said. “But there’s no substitute for good information from the taxpayer.”

Ryan Martin, editor of Maplewood-Brentwood Patch, recently bought a home in the 7200 block of Lyndover Place in Maplewood. Prior to buying the home, he hired a private appraisal company, which had appraised the home at $104,000.

In 2009, the home was assessed at $115,400, according to county records. This year’s preliminary assessment was $135,100. The previous property owner told Martin that no major improvements had been made to the home since 2009.

“He could appeal the assessed value by bringing in the appraisal,” Zimmerman said referring to Martin. “Likewise, if you have water damage in the basement or a leaky roof, you could bring in photos and estimates of what it would cost to fix the problem so the value could be re-evaluated.”

The deadline to make an appeal via an informal conference with staff from the assessor’s office has past. However, homeowners can file an appeal with the St. Louis County Board of Equalization (BOE) through July 11.

Appeals may be made online, by mail or in person. For more information on the appeal process, call the BOE at 314-615-7195 or visit this website.