State launches website to help homeowners know property value

SALT LAKE CITY — The state of Utah is launching a new website to help people better understand the value of their property. 

Utah State Auditor John Dougall walks KSL NewsRadio through the process.

 

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve heard lots of concerns from property owners around Utah,” Dougall said. “So, we wanted to help them have a tool so they could double check the value of their property and see how it compares with their neighbors in their community and other things like that.”

Dougall says the website has a heat map that helps individuals see changes in property values. He says a darker red color means the value has rapidly grown in value. A darker blue means the property has quickly decreased in value.

He says two-thirds of the counties around the state have volunteered to participate and have submitted their information to the website.

KSL NewsRadio’s Jeff Caplan asked, “Has there been an issue where people complain? How come my tax assessment is this when my neighbor’s is this? Does that happen?”

Dougall says it happens quite frequently.

“And one of the challenges for citizens is it’s difficult for them to go appeal that valuation they’re looking for in their neighbor,” he said.

A website on property value

Dougall says the website has tools so property owners can filter based on the square footage of a home.

He adds the state’s property value website is different from other sites such as Zillow because the information comes directly from county assessors.

“Zillow has other numbers out there, maybe what you think you can sell your house for,” Dougall said. “The value in this site is specifically what the government thinks your property is worth. And then that is the value that’s used to figure out how much taxes you’re gonna pay.”

Read more: Salt Lake County Council scrutinizes water districts over proposed property tax hikes

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