Making the most of property assessors offices in Massachusetts will require the office to assess the market value of a property. This value is then multiplied by the tax rate to determine the actual tax that the owner must pay on the property each year. Property tax rates may be set by organizations such as cities, counties or school districts.

Massachusetts property assessors offices use several factors such as location and size to determine the value of a property assessment. Massachusetts assessments are usually accurate and require a property value appeal only on rare occasions. There are three things you need to do when evaluating the property value as determined by the assessor’s office:

1. Obtain the information the property assessor uses to make the Massachusetts property assessments. You should already know the size and location of the property, but the assessor also will be able to provide the value of other properties in your area.
2. Get a professional appraisal so you may compare it to the property value by the Massachusetts assessor.
3. Appeal the assessor’s valuation of your property if needed. Massachusetts assessors have a specific procedure for accomplishing this.

Action Steps
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Learn more about the laws regarding Massachusetts property assessments

Each state has laws that provide guidelines on the way that property values are assessed. There also may be laws that specify what property tax information is publicly available.

I recommend: The Massachusetts Trial Court Libraries provides links to state laws that are specific to property taxes in Massachusetts. MassResources.org discusses the laws regarding real estate tax exemptions.

Find out how professional appraisers determine Massachusetts property values

Appraisers may use different methods to estimate the value of your property. You will want to ensure the professional appraiser considers the same factors as the property assessor.

I recommend: Ace Appraisal has a FAQ that covers its appraisal process. O'Hara Buthray Associates describes a property appraisal and also provides links to related information.

Learn how your local government performs a Massachusetts property assessment

Many local agencies have online resources available to help you with your property tax assessment. You should be able to locate this information on your county's website, in addition to other information regarding property taxes.

I recommend: The Town of Carver Board of Assessors offers links to information on property taxes and also has a property search application. The City of Greenfield Assessor's Office provides a taxpayer's guide specific to that city.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your Massachusetts property assessor to see if you qualify for any exemptions on your property assessment. Exemptions may be recognized for disabled veterans, senior citizens or non-profit organizations. File any appeals to your current tax assessment before the tax deadline. It will be more difficult to obtain a favorable ruling on an appeal after the deadline.

There is a lot of information to aid your real estate investments at your Massachusetts assessors office, including ownership changes for properties, Massachusetts property tax records, up-to-date maps of property lines, and property descriptions. MA assessors also analyze trends in property sales prices, the costs of constructing a new property, and the average expense for renting property.

There are many ways that the information obtained through property assessment in Massachusetts is useful. Consider the following when dealing with Massachusetts assessors:

1. You can research the history of potential investment properties through the Massachusetts property records.

2. Massachusetts property assessments reveal the market trends for properties in your area.

3. Make sure the Massachusetts property values assessments you're looking at are accurate.

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Access property information through the Massachusetts assessors office

It's important that you research a property's history before making an investment. You need to know how many times there were changes in ownership, any construction done on the property, and changes in Massachusetts land values over the years. Be sure to compare the assessed value of other properties in the area as well.

I recommend: Go to the Massachusetts assessors office website for the county which your property of interest is in and do a search on the property's history. Massachusetts towns such as Amherst Town or the Town of Brookline provide free online records databases. For a list of contact information and websites for other Massachusetts town assessors, visit Assessor Links USA.

Know your rights under Massachusetts property assessment regulations

Knowledge of the laws and regulations that go into property assessment in Massachusetts will help you to understand the calculation of the property tax you pay each year and where that money goes. Additionally, there are a number of tax exemptions that can lower your property tax dues, providing you meet the eligibility requirements.

I recommend: Read the Massachusetts Property Tax Relief article on Associated Content's website to determine if you qualify for any tax exemptions. The Citizen Information Service website also provides information on property tax exemptions, deferrals, credits and tax breaks.

Check the accuracy of your MA property assessment

There is a possibility that local Massachusetts property assessors offices can calculate an inaccurate property value. If you have concern that the assessed value of your property is inaccurate, hire an appraiser to provide a second opinion. If there is a discrepancy, the appraisal provides proof of a more accurate Massachusetts property value, and you can file an appeal with your local property assessors offices in Massachusetts.

I recommend: Visit AppraiserUSA.com for a list of appraisers in Massachusetts, searching by county or city. Go to the website for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Appellant Tax Board for forms and information regarding the process to appeal your property tax assessment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always pay your Massachusetts property tax each year by the deadline to avoid penalties. Doing so also helps the credit score for your business.

Assessors, or appraisers, are licensed experts who determine Massachusetts property values in order to determine the local property taxes the owners pay each year based upon the applicable formula for the state of Massachusetts and county of residence. Typically an individual assessor specializes in assessing the value of either residential or commercial property. Those working in Massachusetts property assessor’s offices evaluate properties based upon other buildings in that area and keep relevant public records.

While on-the-job training is usually available, state and federal regulations are in place for someone to become a Massachusetts property assessor. There are many ways to obtain the necessary property assessor’s offices – Massachusetts education and training. Some of these education strategies include:

1. It is a requirement that Massachusetts property assessors have a bachelor’s degree.

2. Massachusetts assessors must have a license in real estate appraisal.

3. Attending seminars and workshops will produce more accurate Massachusetts property assessments.

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Obtain a bachelor's degree relevant to MA property assessment

While there is no degree specific to property appraisals or assessments, as of 2008 the federal government requires all individuals applying for an appraiser or assessor license to have a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent of such in credit hours). Typically, a related field of study such as economics, finance or real estate is an appropriate major.

I recommend: Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for training and qualification requirements for most assessors and appraisers. Consider a degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Take finance courses at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Become licensed for jobs as property assessors in Massachusetts

In order to become a Massachusetts property assessor, you must obtain a real estate appraiser's license. It is a requirement for all states that their licensing and certification requirements for assessors and appraisers conform to those requirements established by the Appraisal Qualifications Board. Typically, the requirements to obtain an assessors license include specific training classes, on-the-job training time and the passing of specified exams.

I recommend: Read the rules and regulations for real estate appraisers on the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation website. Obtain your appraiser’s license through The Lee Institute of Real Estate, located in Brookline, MA.

Register for seminars relevant to MA property assessments

Local training seminars, workshops and conferences can provide the information and techniques you need to continue to produce accurate and concise assessments of property values. Some Massachusetts property assessors offices require their employees to attend training or seminars throughout their employment. It is also a great way to pad your resume when searching for a new assessor job.

I recommend: Peruse the list of seminars, workshops and conferences offered by the Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers (MBREA). Attend seminars in Massachusetts offered by the Appraisal Institute. Check the course calendar for workshops in Massachusetts provided by the International Association of Assessing Officers.

Massachusetts property assessors offices laws and regulations control the methods that property assessors use to estimate the value of real property. Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts home values. These sources include the three following categories:

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

Action Steps
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Examine the laws that control assessors of property assessment in Massachusetts

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

I recommend: The Massachusetts State Guide provides a summary of property tax law in Massachusetts with respect to the property owner. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center provides an analysis of the Massachusetts property tax circuit breaker.

Study the procedures for conducting Massachusetts property assessments in a particular jurisdiction

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

I recommend: The Town of Andover provides regulations for the property assessment process in that city. The Town of Barnstable provides the duties of the property assessor as specified under Massachusetts law.

Review laws on MA assessors from law firms in Massachusetts

Massachusetts lawyers who specialize in property law frequently offer summaries on the property taxes that are assessed in Massachusetts. They also may write articles on specific issues regarding property taxes in Massachusetts.

I recommend: The Law Offices of Saliba & Saliba provides specific legal information on property assessment law in Massachusetts. Ridgefield Valuation specializes in Massachusetts property tax law and answers specific questions on property assessments.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The laws on Massachusetts 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.