Property assessors offices in Alaska education and training will teach you how to appraise personal and real and personal property in order to estimate its fair market value. Property assessors may also assess property for the purpose of setting property taxes in accordance with a prescribed schedule.

The requirements needed to perform an Alaska property tax search are complex and vary by the type and value of the property being appraised. Generally, these requirements may be grouped in the following categories:

1. Education. While there are no formal degree requirements for property assessors in Alaska, most practicing assessors have at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in economics, finance or real estate. However, the specific courses that a property assessor needs are usually taken at a community college or professional assessor organization.
2. On-the-job training. This is required to obtain a license or certification and should be acquired in the office of an independent fee appraiser, if possible.
3. Licensure. Federal law requires that property assessors in Alaska have a state-issued license if they will be involved in transactions requiring a federal loan of $250,000 or more.
   

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Complete the courses needed to assess Alaska property tax records

There are a variety of on-site universities and distance learning classes that teach students to assess Alaska property values. These institutions should update their curriculum frequently to reflect changes in the state's educational requirements for property appraisers.

I recommend: Pearson Education is approved by the Alaska Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers to provide testing for appraisers in Alaska. William King & Associates in Anchorage provides qualifying education for appraisers.

Get on-the-job training for Alaska property assessment

Job training for property appraisers in Alaska has specific requirements, as laid out by the Alaska Real Estate Appraisers Board. These requirements stipulate the length of time the training must take, the way in which the mentor must monitor the process, and the type of experience the trainee must acquire.

I recommend: The Alaska Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers provides the complete work experience requirements for appraisers in Alaska. The Alaska Legal Resource Center lists the specific work experience for both categories of Alaska appraisers.

Become a licensed Alaska property assessor

Alaska recognizes four categories of appraisers. A trainee must work under the supervision of a licensed appraiser. An institutional real estate appraiser performs appraisals for a financial institution. A certified residential real estate appraiser may appraise residential real estate worth up to $1,000,000 and non-residential real estate worth up to $250,000. A certified general appraiser can perform appraisals on all types of property.

I recommend: The Appraisal Institute provides general information and links to specific information on licensing requirements for appraisers in Alaska. Helplinelaw.com describes the complete licensing requirements for Alaska appraisers.

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• •  Alaska property assessors must meet the minimum certification and licensing requirements established by the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) of the Appraisal Foundation. However, many states have more stringent licensing requirements than those required by the AQB. For example, a state may require an appraisal license for all appraisers regardless of the transaction value of the property.

Alaska property assessors are few and far between. Even though it's the largest state, only a small portion of its land is subject to property taxes. Twenty-five Alaskan municipalities levy a property tax, with the average being about $1,200.

In addition to assessing land, property assessors also provide ownership change information, up-to-date maps of property lines and property descriptions. Alaska assessors will analyze trends in property sales prices, the costs of constructing a new property and the average expense for renting property as well.

Alaska property assessment can cause your property taxes to vary, depending on how often they're done. Typically, Alaska assessors can't go inside a property, so the value is based on the exterior appearance. Alaska property assessor records can help to:

1. Research potential investment properties.

2. Track property market trends by checking out the rise and fall of Alaska property values.

3. Appeal unfair Alaska property values after researching comparable properties.

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Get familiar with how Alaska property assessments are done

Knowledge is power to the investor. If you don't understand your Alaska property assessment, you won't know if the assessment on your land or building is fair.

I recommend: The Municipality of Anchorage Treasury Division explains how property taxes are billed and collected. Bankrate.com gives a simple explanation of how Alaska property assessors do their job; just follow the "Property" tab for more information.

Use online records and tools to perform an Alaska property tax search

Although there aren't many taxing districts in Alaska, you can still find assessors online. Alaska property assessment is public record, so you have the right to access and examine as many assessments as you'd like.

I recommend: DirectPass, Searchsystems.net’s online database, allows you to get information from property assessors in Alaska. It costs about $5 per month. Skipease and Assessor Links USA lists information about property assessments in Alaska as well as specific links to Alaska property assessors' offices. USSearch’s online tools let you run property tax searches, get property detail, do comprehensive valuation analysis and more.

Determine taxes by using similar Alaska property tax records

If you're buying an investment property that's similar to others in the area, it's safe to assume the values will be comparable. If they're not, though, you have the right to appeal the Alaska property assessment to the appropriate office or the state.

I recommend: Do an Alaska property tax search through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Recorder's Office online database for properties. Use the Office of the State Assessor for contact information and land management and mapping information. Search for addresses in the two municipalities with online databases--the Anchorage Real Estate Property Taxes and Juneau Alaska Assessor's database.

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• •  There are a few exemptions available on your Alaska property tax assessment. Disabled veterans and property owners 65 or older get the first $150,000 of assessed value disregarded.
• •  Keep in mind, property assessors in Alaska base their assessments from the outer appearance of the property only. Any improvements made on the land or property can increase the value of your assessment; even if they were ones that you had not made.

Property assessors offices - Alaska basics should include an understanding of the essential functions that these offices perform. The primary purpose of a property assessor is to estimate the fair market value of real property. The government usually performs property assessment at the county or city level to determine the property taxes that each property owner should pay. Private companies also perform property appraisals, usually for people seeking to buy or sell a home.

There are many sources of information for people who wish to learn more about the fundamentals of Alaska property assessments. These sources generally provide information for the following categories:

1. State-specific information on an Alaska property tax assessment. All property assessors in Alaska must follow the same state laws and procedures.
2. Local property assessors offices. These offices will have the most current information on a specific property within that city or county. Property owners also appeal property assessments through the local property assessors office in most cases.
3. Commercial property appraisers. Private appraisers attempt to estimate the value of a property for the purpose of obtaining a loan. They frequently specialize in properties within a particular geographic area.
   

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Find information on Alaska property tax records that is common to all property in Alaska

Alaska has information on property assessment that is common to all counties and cities in Alaska. This may include state laws on property assessment and answers to frequently asked questions.

I recommend: The Alaska Office of the State Assessor has extensive information on the laws regarding property assessors in Alaska. The City of Nome provides the specific portion of the Alaska state code that deals with the assessment of property taxes in Alaska.

Get information on property assessment from your local Alaska property assessors office

The property assessor for your county or city will frequently allow you to perform an Alaska property tax search. This office usually calculates the assessment by using a general formula, although they may also perform an on-site assessment on a specific property.

I recommend: The Assessing Department for the Kenai Peninsula Borough provides the specific exemptions and deferments that are available on property taxes in that jurisdiction. The Treasury Division for the Municipality of Anchorage provides a FAQ for the specific regulations regarding property assessment in Anchorage.

Locate basic information on Alaska property assessment from a private property appraiser

A mortgage lender in Alaska will generally require a property appraisal before approving a loan. Private property appraisers frequently provide general information on property appraisals and also may have specific knowledge about a particular area.

I recommend: Appraise Alaska provides an overview of the ethical standards for real estate appraisers in Alaska. Anchorage Appraisal Service provides specific information on the procedures for appealing a property tax assessment.

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• •  Alaska property assessors must calculate the amount of each property tax. The assessed value of the property is multiplied by the tax rate for each type of tax to obtain the dollar amount for that tax. Real property may be subject to a variety of property taxes that support essential functions, such as government and education. Each of these taxes has a specific tax rate.

Alaska property assessors offices laws and regulations control the methods that property assessors use to estimate the value of real property. Alaska property appraisers usually perform assessments against a given standard, such as fair market value, distressed sale value or foreclosure value. The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) provides quality control standards for the appraisal of real property in the United States. The USPAP does not actually define standards of value for property assessments, but does provide guidance on how they should be defined.

There are many different sources of information on the laws regarding property assessors in Alaska. These sources include the three following categories:

1. The Alaska state government. These sources provide the state laws and other official information on an Alaska property assessors office.
2. County and municipal governments in Alaska. These sources provide the rules and procedures for a specific property assessors office in Alaska.
3. Law firms in Alaska that specialize in property law. Many of these firms provide general information on the property tax laws in Alaska.
   

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Examine the laws that control assessors of Alaska property assessments

The state government of Alaska will have specific laws for property tax assessors. Private organizations also provide summaries and general information on property tax assessor laws in Alaska.

I recommend: Helplinelaw.com provides that portion of the Alaska statute which deals with municipal taxation, including property assessment. The National Timber Tax Website summarizes the method of property assessment in Alaska and also offers the legal exemptions from property taxes.

Study the procedures for conducting Alaska property assessment in a particular jurisdiction

Local governments have specific procedures for property assessments and also may offer an Alaska property tax search. A complete list of Alaska property tax records may also be available.

I recommend: The Property Assessor for the Municipality of Anchorage provides the regulations for paying and appealing property assessment taxes in that borough. The Fairbanks North Star Borough Code addresses property assessment in Title 3, Chapter 12.

Review Alaska property assessors laws from legal organizations in Alaska

Private organizations in Alaska frequently lobby to reform property tax laws. They also may write articles on specific issues regarding property taxes in Alaska.

I recommend: The Alliance Defense Fund provides a recent landmark case in Alaska property tax law. The Interior Taxpayers Association provides specific changes it has lobbied for in Alaska property tax law.

Tips & Tactics

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• •  The laws on Alaska property assessment are generally guided by the Financial Institutions Reform and Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) of 1989. This federal legislation requires all states to have a system to certify and license real estate appraisers. Prior to the passage of the FIRREA, there were no national standards for ensuring the quality of real estate appraisers in the United States.