Property Appraisal
In Florida, all real and tangible property is valued by the Property appraiser annually for assessment purposes. The legal assessment
date is January 1, and valuations are based on conditions as of that date. Tax bills are mailed in November of each year. Although
the market as well as other conditions for any given property may have changed between January 1 and November, the valuation on which
the tax rate is applied is based on conditions as of January 1 - approximately eleven months prior to when tax bills are mailed.
At least once every five years, each parcel of property in Brevard County is inspected by one of our appraisers in accordance
with Florida Law. Some inspections are done remotely with aerial imagery, street-level photography, and other off-site research, and
some are done on site. The type of inspection depends on the complexity of the property, the quality of available imagery, the
accessibility of the property, tree cover, and other factors. Our goal is to be as unintrusive as possible while still
complying with the law in producing an accurate and equitable assessment roll.
Individual property values may be adjusted between scheduled appraisals due to sales activities or other variables affecting real estate
values in your neighborhood. Sales of similar properties are a strong indicator of values in the real estate market in your area.
To determine the value of property, the Property Appraiser will consider such factors as what other properties are selling for (recent sales),
what would be the cost to replace the property today, how much it takes to operate the property and to keep it in repair, what rental income
the property may earn, and many other applicable factors that affect its value.
Using these facts, the Property Appraiser has three primary methods available for consideration in determining your property's value, that is;
through the sales comparison approach, the cost approach and the income approach. As a result of the large number of properties involved in
various categories, the Property Appraiser must employ applicable features of each method and apply uniform rates to similar types of properties
in a process known as mass appraisal
Sales Comparison Approach
In order to determine the value of your property, the Property Appraiser must first know what properties have sold, and how much they are
selling for in today's market. By maintaining a database of real estate transactions we can arrive at the property value by studying
sales of comparable properties. This is the sales comparison approach to property valuation.
Cost Approach
This method of appraising property is based on how much it would cost today to build an identical structure on the property. If the
property is not new, we must also determine how much the building has lost value over time (depreciated). The value of the underlying
land must also be determined.
Income Approach
This method is preferred when evaluating income-producing rental and commercial property. The amount of revenue your property would
produce if it were rented as apartments, a Store, or an office building. Consideration is given to operating expenses, taxes, insurance,
maintenance costs, and the return or profit that could be reasonably expected on the property.
Mass Appraisal
There are basically only two kinds of appraisal: fee appraisal and mass appraisal. Both types of appraisals utilize the same basic
appraisal principles and theories. The fee appraisals consist of those methods just discussed (the sales comparison cost and income
approaches) where only one parcel of property is evaluated at a time. Mass appraisal values the entire County where market areas,
neighborhoods, subdivisions and large groupings of similar properties are appraised at one time by adopting standard techniques
and using uniform rates so that resultant appraised values are equitable for all properties within an acceptable statistical deviation.
Market Value and Assessed Value - What's the Difference?
When you receive your Truth In Millage (TRIM) Notice in the month of August each year, you will note that there is a column for "market value"
and a column for "assessed value." The "market value" of a property is defined as the most probable price which the property should bring in a
competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, with the buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably,
and neither being under duress to act, and represents the estimated net proceeds to the seller. This is the value established for ad valorem
purposes in accordance with section 193.011 (1) and (8), Florida Statutes. This value does not represent anticipated selling price for the
property appraised. See the Sales Comparison Approach section, above, for additional information on what constitutes market value. State law
requires the Property Appraiser to make a determination of the market value of all property on the first day of January each year. This is the
value found in the TRIM Notice column marked 'Market Value'.
Including a market value for your property resulted from the legislation implementing Constitutional Amendment 10 in 1994. As a result of the
Amendment, the Property Appraiser must now also determine and maintain your property's market value because the market value of homestead
property may and probably will increase at a greater rate than the assessed value (see the Calculating Residential Assessed Value example below).
The market value terminology was, therefore, used by the State to differentiate between the two values for homestead properties. However, for
properties other than homestead, both the market value and the assessed value will be the same, with the exception of agricultural and similarly
assessed property pursuant to other preferential tax treatment as provided by law.
The "assessed value" is defined as the value of each property used in the computation of the property taxes. After allowances for personal
exemptions, it becomes the taxable value to which the tax rate is applied. However, the implementation of Constitutional Amendment 10 in 1994,
limits subsequent annual increases in assessed value. Amendment 10 established the annual increase as either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or
3%, whichever is less.
Calculating Residential Assessed Value for Homestead Property
Example:
Base Year 2005 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
N/A |
N/A |
2006 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
3.0 |
-0- |
2007 |
$110,000 |
$103,000 |
3.0 |
$100,000 x 030 = $3,000 |
2008 |
$110,000 |
$105,575 |
2.5 |
$103,000 x 025 = $2,575 |
2009 |
$115,000 |
$108,742 |
3.0 |
$105,575 x 0.030 = $3,167 |
2010 |
$125,000 |
$108,851 |
0.1 |
$108,742 x 0.001 = $109 |
2011 |
$120,000 |
$111,790 |
2.7 |
$108,851 x 0.027 = $2,939 |
2012 |
$125,000 |
$113,467 |
1.5 |
$111,790 x 0.015 = $1,677 |
2013 |
$135,000 |
$116,871 |
3.0 |
$113,467 x 0.030 = $3,404 |
2014 |
$160,000 |
$118,858 |
1.7 |
$116,871 x 0.017 = $1,987 |
The Base Year will always be either the first year the program started (1994) or the first year that the homestead exemption
was filed and approved. The assessed value will always equal the market value in the base year.
In the example above, the assessed value stayed at $100,000 in 2006 because there was no increase in market value. In 2008, since
the market value increased, the CPI of 2.5% was applied, as it was lower than the Amendment 10 cap of 3%. In other words, a
2.5% increase applied to the previous year's assessed value resulted in an increase in assessed value of $2,575 in this particular
case. In the example, this same procedure has been applied for each calendar year thereafter to exemplify how it works on a year
to year basis with different CPIs. The assessed value is either full market value or less; assessed value can not exceed
market value. This limitation applies until the homestead property is sold and the market value becomes the assessed
value in a new base year, at which time the process starts over.
Factors to Consider in Deriving Just Valuation
In arriving at just valuation as required under s.4, Art. VII of the State Constitution (reference
Chapter 193.011, Florida Statutes),
the Property Appraiser shall take into consideration the following factors:
-
The present cash value of the property, which is the amount a willing purchaser would pay a willing seller, exclusive of reasonable fees and
costs of purchase, in cash or the immediate equivalent thereof in a transaction at arm's length;
-
The highest and best use to which the property can be expected to be put in the immediate future and the present use of the property,
taking into consideration any applicable judicial limitation or local or State land use regulation and considering any moratorium imposed
by executive order, law, ordinance, regulation, resolution, or proclamation adopted by any governmental body or agency or the Governor when
the moratorium or judicial limitation prohibits or restricts the development or improvement of property as otherwise authorized by applicable
law. The applicable governmental body or agency or the Governor shall notify the Property Appraiser in writing of any executive order, ordinance,
regulation, or proclamation it adopts imposing any such limitation, regulation, or moratorium;
-
The location of said property;
-
The quantity or size of said property;
-
The cost of said property and the present replacement value of any improvements thereon;
-
The condition of said property;
-
The income of said property; and
-
The net proceeds of the sale of the property, as received by the seller, after deduction of all of the usual and reasonable fees and costs
of the sale, including the costs and expenses of financing, and allowance for unconventional or atypical terms of financing arrangements.
When the net proceeds of the sale of any property are utilized, directly or indirectly, in the determination of just valuation of realty of
the sold parcel or any other parcel under the provisions of this section, the Property Appraiser, for the purposes of such determination,
shall exclude any portion of such net proceeds attributable to payments for household furnishings or other items of personal property.
Chapter 200, F. S. (1998), 200.065 - Method of Fixing Millage
(1) Upon completion of the assessment of all property pursuant to s. 193.023, the Property Appraiser shall certify to each taxing authority
the taxable value within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority. This certification shall include a copy of the statement required to be
submitted under s. 195.073(3), as applicable to that taxing authority. The form on which the certification is made shall include instructions
to each taxing authority describing the proper method of computing a millage rate which, exclusive of new construction, additions to structures,
deletions, increases in the value of improvements that have undergone a substantial rehabilitation which increased the assessed value of such
improvements by at least 100 percent, and property added due to geographic boundary changes, will provide the same ad valorem tax revenue for
each taxing authority as was levied during the prior year. That millage rate shall be known as the "rolled-back rate." The information provided
pursuant to this subsection shall also be sent to the tax collector by the property appraiser at the time it is sent to each taxing authority.
(2) No millage shall be levied until a resolution or ordinance has been approved by the governing board of the taxing authority which resolution
or ordinance must be approved by the taxing authority according to the following procedure:
(a) l. Upon preparation of a tentative budget, but prior to adoption thereof, each taxing authority shall compute a proposed millage rate necessary
to fund the tentative budget other than the portion of the budget to be funded from sources other than ad valorem taxes. In computing proposed or
final millage rates, each taxing authority shall utilize not less than 95 percent of the taxable value certified pursuant to subsection (1).
2. The tentative budget of the county commission shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with s. 129.03.
3. The tentative budget of the school district shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with chapter 237, provided that the date of
submission shall not be later than 24 days after certification of value pursuant to subsection (1).
4. Taxing authorities other than the county and school district shall prepare and consider tentative and final budgets in accordance with
this section and applicable provisions of law, including budget procedures applicable to the taxing authority, provided such procedures do not
conflict with general law.
Chapter 12D-1 Rev. 12-31-98
Reference Florida Administrative Code
12D-1
(2) 'Just Value' -- 'Just Valuation', 'Actual Value' and 'Value' - Mean the price at which a property, if offered for sale in the open market,
with a reasonable time for the seller to find a purchaser, would transfer for cash or its equivalent, under prevailing market conditions
between parties who have knowledge of the uses to which the property may be put, both seeking to maximize their gains and neither being in a
position to take advantage of the exigencies of the other.
How Can Appraised Value Change from Year to Year?
Property tax is "ad valorem," which means, "based upon value." When the market value of a property changes, so may its appraised value.
Your property's market value can change as a result of the economy in general. For example, in a community with a healthy growth rate,
with more and more people taking up residence (i.e. more buyers in the market place), the demand for housing usually increases, which
in turn increases the market value for your home. Conversely, with a sluggish economy, slow growth, and no demand or few potential
buyers in the market, your residential property's value will probably flatten or decline.
The Property Appraiser creates none of these market situations; individuals in the community create value by their transactions in
the market place. The Property Appraiser is, however, mandated by State Law with the legal responsibility to discover these market
changes and to appraise all affected properties accordingly.
The Florida Department Of Revenue's Role in the Property Appraiser's Work
To ensure that the Property Appraiser is properly assessing the value of property, the Property Appraiser's assessment roll is audited by
the State Department of Revenue (DOR) with respect to whether the assessed values reflect values at current market rates. The same roll
is also audited to ensure that there is equity in the values established, i.e. like properties are similarly valued. When the ratio of
level of assessment to actual sales falls below the State required level, the Property Appraiser must adjust the assessed value or the
State DOR will not approve the assessment roll. Therefore, value changes from year to year because the market place is dynamic, causing
the values of properties to change, which the Property Appraiser must account for every year, as of January 1. If the assessment roll is
not approved by the State Department of Revenue, taxing authorities cannot proceed with their annual budgets.
What are Special Assessments and Why are They on Tax Bills?
Special assessments have absolutely nothing to do with the value of property or the duties of the Property Appraiser. Special
assessments can be levied by various government entities so empowered by law. For cost savings, and for convenience purposes,
these governmental entities have, in turn, requested that the tax bill identify these special assessment fees for payment as
part of the total tax bill.
Appraised Value and Tax Rates
The Property Appraiser is not the Tax Collector, and the Property Appraiser has nothing to do with the total amount of taxes collected.
As a property owner, however, you should not only be interested in what value the Property Appraiser places on your property, but in how
the amount of taxes you must pay is determined.
How it works:
If the Property Appraiser has found the assessed value of your home to be $55,000 and you apply for and are found to be eligible for
the $25,000
Homestead Exemption, that $25,000 is deducted from the
assessed value of your home to leave a taxable value of $30,000.
For this example, assume a total tax rate of 17 mills ($17.00 of taxes per $1,000 of taxable value) which is an accumulation of all
the tax rates set by each of the taxing authorities.
Divide the taxable value of your home ($30,000) by $1,000, which is 30; multiply that 30 by $17.00 to determine what your property tax will
be, which in this case equals $510. This is the amount of tax due on your home by March, unless you pay the Tax Collector early and receive
a discount. If paid in the following months, the discounts are: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February.