Why did my assessed value increase when I did not do anything to the property in 5 years and I am not selling the property?

The assessed value represents the estimate of the market value of the property. The real estate market changes constantly. The assessment for the Fiscal Year 2023 represents the estimate of market value as of January 1, 2022. This estimate of market value is determined by examining sales of properties from the calendar year 2021. Although there may not have been any physical changes to the property, buyers may be paying more or less for properties than they were in previous years. The assessment changes reflect the changes in the purchase prices of similar homes in the neighborhood. The assessments do not predict market value. The assessments reflect (or report) market value. The real estate market can change dramatically from year to year. It is not limited to 1, 5, 10 or 25-year intervals. The buyers and sellers determine the market value of properties. The assessments reflect what the buyers and sellers are doing as of the assessment date.

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1. What do the assessors look at when determining an assessment?
2. Why did my assessment change a different percentage than the assessment on my neighbor’s house?
3. What does my assessment represent?
4. My tax bill has gone up more than 2.5 percent. Doesn’t Proposition 2 and half limit the tax increase?
5. My assessment increased more than 2.5 percent. Doesn’t Proposition 2 and a half limit the amount my assessment can increase?
6. I am elderly and cannot afford this tax bill. Can’t the assessors lower this assessment because I am elderly?
7. I am a young person who grew up in Leominster and cannot afford this tax bill. Can’t the assessors lower this assessment because I can’t afford to live in Leominster?
8. My neighbor told me not to let a representative from the assessors’ office into my house. Do I have to let the assessors into my house?
9. My neighbor does not allow the assessors in and I do. Am I being penalized?
10. Why do the assessors want to see the interior and exterior of my property?
11. Why did my assessed value increase when I did not do anything to the property in 5 years and I am not selling the property?
12. Why could my assessment change every year?
13. The taxes are too high. Soon I will not be able to afford to live in Leominster. Why are you raising my taxes every year?
14. My assessment increased 20 percent. Does that mean my taxes will increase 20 percent?
15. I think my assessment is out of line with my neighbors’ property, whose property is assessed lower. How do I get my assessment to be as low as theirs?
16. Do I have to apply for an abatement every year if I received one in the past?
17. What is the difference between an abatement and an elderly exemption?
18. My neighbors’ house assessment used to be higher than mine, now my assessment is higher than theirs. Why?
19. My neighbors have a two-family property and I have a single-family property. Why is my single-family property assessed higher than their two-family property?
20. A house three times larger than mine sold up the street from me for $600,000. Will that make my assessment go up?
21. What will happen to my assessment if I put an addition on my property?
22. Why is the previous owner’s name still appearing on the tax bill?
23. My assessment went up 25 percent, is that good news or bad news?
24. My next door neighbors have done work on their house, a new kitchen, new bathroom and an addition. How come their assessment has not gone up?
25. I have a new house and recently I received a supplemental tax bill for the same fiscal year. Why did I receive more than one tax bill for the same property for the same fiscal year?