Assessments spark plenty of calls from homeowners
It’s been a busy new year for the local property-assessment office.
The BC Assessment staff in Kamloops are fielding nearly double the number of calls from homeowners compared to 2011 — but it is not translating into more appeals.
Graham Held, a deputy assessor with the agency, said his office has received 103 appeal letters from homeowners as of Jan. 13, down from 122 at the same time last year and 152 in 2010.
He pointed out it is still early in the month and the numbers will change — property assessments were only delivered at the beginning of January.
Held suggested when there is stability in the market — and in assessments — there are fewer appeals.
“When the market is going up dramatically or going down dramatically, we’re going to take more calls,” he said.
“People get interested and concerned when the numbers are moving.”
The majority of Kamloops homeowners saw a modest increase or decrease in their property assessments for 2012.
However, the assessment office has fielded 1,100 calls so far, compared to 585 in 2011.
Held has no explanation for the increase in calls, but noted 1,100 is on par with 2010.
Last year, BC Assessment dealt with 667 appeals in Kamloops.
Homeowners have until the end of the month to appeal.
The biggest drop in property values is in Sahali and Aberdeen, where the average property decreased to $404,000 from $410,000 in 2011.
Homes in North Kamloops and Brocklehurst have seen more modest decreases in assessments, to $303,000 from $306,000 in 2011.
However, homes in east Kamloops, including Juniper Ridge, Dallas and Barnhartvale, are up to $392,000 from $388,000 and Batchelor Heights has seen a rise to $374,000 from $367,000.
The overall assessment roll for the city increased to $13.68 billion from $13.66 billion the previous year.
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