Making the most of property assessors offices in Ohio 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.

Ohio property assessors offices use several factors such as location and size to determine the value of a property. This assessment is usually accurate and requires 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 assessors offices in Ohio use to make the assessment. 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 official Ohio property assessments.
3. Appeal the assessor’s valuation of your property if needed. Ohio assessors have a specific procedure for accomplishing this.

Action Steps
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Learn more about the laws regarding Ohio 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 Ohio Department of Taxation offers a FAQ on state property taxes and also has links to resources on Ohio property tax law. The County Auditor's Association of Ohio has an overview of the homestead exemption and property tax rollback.

Find out how professional appraisers determine Ohio 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: Porter & Peck offers an overview of a property appraisal and also provides links to the county assessors in Ohio. Dannemiller Appraisal Services discusses some specific issues involving property appraisals.

Learn how your county performs an Ohio property assessment

Many counties 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 Montgomery County Tax Assessor provides a FAQ on property tax assessments and related links. The Warren County Auditor has information on factors which can reduce your property taxes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your Ohio 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.

Each Ohio county has a branch of its auditor's office that conducts Ohio property assessments. Property assessors offices—Ohio, like most states, uses this name for the branch—determine property values for the purposes of taxation. Beyond taxing purposes, however, the information Ohio property assessors collect can be invaluable for property owners and potential investors.

Familiarize yourself with your local Ohio property assessors. These offices have accessible records which can help to:

1. Research potential properties through real estate records; past-sale records of a property can help an investor know its true worth.

2. Follow Ohio land value trends by comparing and contrasting similar properties.

3. Determine taxes or potential taxes on properties. By tracking these taxes, property owners will know if they are paying a fair rate compared to similar properties.

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Research online records though property assessors offices in Ohio

These days there are several options to find online records for property assessors offices, and Ohio is no exception. Since property records are public information, many Ohio counties offer free records searches online.

I recommend: Among the Ohio counties that offer free online searchable databases of property assessors records are Ashtabula County, Cuyahoga County and Franklin County. For a complete list of Ohio online property assessor links, see Assessor Links USA.

Know the laws for Ohio property assessment

By knowing the laws for Ohio property tax, property owners will be better able to understand their tax bill and, possibly, work to lower it. For example, there are several property tax exemptions available in Ohio, including those for seniors and disabled veterans.

I recommend: The County Auditors' Association of Ohio has a guide for taxpayers about the ins and outs of property assessment in Ohio. The association also outlines what kind of tax exemptions are available and how to apply for them.

Find Ohio property values through independent websites

Assessors offices in Ohio aren't the only place to find property tax records. The records from individual assessors' sites only have records for those specific counties; other websites may be very useful if you are searching for properties in several Ohio counties.

I recommend: SearchSystems.net has a direct pass program that lets users search thousands of property records and other public records from around the U.S. LoopNet is a great source if you want to search commercial property records, and detailed property records can also be purchased at Intelius Property Check.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't depend solely on Ohio property assessors' records for a property's true worth. In general, assessor home values tend to be lower than those of an appraiser.
• •  Use assessor records to compare your taxes to those of similar properties. You may find discrepancies and if you do, don't be afraid to call and ask questions.

Property assessors offices in Ohio 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 work in property assessors offices for Ohio 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 Ohio, 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 appraisers 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 work in property assessors offices in Ohio

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

I recommend: Hondros College is approved to provide the complete training needed to become a licensed appraiser in Ohio. JVI Online Education Services offers an online education that is also approved in Ohio.

Get on-the-job training for Ohio property assessment

Job training for property appraisers in Ohio has specific requirements, as laid out by the Ohio 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 Ohio Administrative Code specifies the type of work experience and supervision required for a appraiser trainee. The Ohio Department of Commerce uses the Appraiser Qualifications Board guidelines to establish the documentation of work experience for appraiser trainees.

Become a licensed Ohio property assessor

Ohio recognizes four categories of appraisers. A trainee must work under the direct supervision of a licensed appraiser. A licensed residential appraiser may appraise residential property with a value less than $1,000,000. A certified residential appraiser may appraise any residential property. A certified general appraiser can perform appraisals on all types of property.

I recommend: The Ohio Revised Code provides the legal requirements for the application of an appraiser's license in Ohio. Columbus State Community College summarizes the complete requirements for each level of appraiser in Ohio.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ohio property assessors may choose to become a member of a national or regional assessor association. Full membership in a professional organization usually requires significantly more education and experience than the minimum licensing requirements of the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB). Many of these associations also offer a membership category specifically for trainees.

Ohio property assessors offices laws and regulations deal with the property taxes that derive from the estimated value of real property. Property assessors in the United States routinely assess property according to the fair market standard, although there are other standards, such as the distressed value and the foreclosure value. All federally regulated institutions must perform property appraisals with a licensed appraiser and Ohio generally requires licensed appraisers for all appraisals. Ohio property laws also specify the conditions under which a property owner may qualify for a homestead exemption or other property tax exemption.

You can find Ohio property assessor laws in a variety of locations. These sources may be classified according to the types of laws they cover and include the three following categories:

1. The Ohio state government. These sources provide laws and other information on Ohio property assessments that apply to the entire state.
2. County and municipal governments in Ohio. Each jurisdiction has its own procedures for implementing laws on property assessments.
3. Law firms that practice property law. Law firms in Ohio frequently offer information for resolving disputes on property taxes.
   

Action Steps
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Examine the laws that control property values in Ohio

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

I recommend: The Ohio Department of Taxation provides the portion of the Ohio Administrative Code that addresses the assessment of taxes on real property in Ohio. LAWriter provides the duties of property assessors in Ohio in Chapter 5713 of the Ohio Code.

Study the procedures for accessing Ohio land values in a particular jurisdiction

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

I recommend: The Ashtabula County Auditor provides a FAQ with specific property assessment regulations for that county. The Butler County Auditor describes the rules on the homestead exemption for property taxes in Butler County.

Review laws on property assessors in Ohio from law firms

Ohio lawyers who specialize in property law frequently offer summaries on property assessments and property taxes in Ohio. They also may write articles on specific issues regarding property taxes in Ohio.

I recommend: Bricker & Eckler publishes articles, such as "Expense Reduction Opportunities: Reducing Property Tax Liability," that relate directly to property assessment law in Ohio. Todd M. Kolarik provides extensive information on property assessments under Ohio law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The quality of Ohio property assessment is controlled by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). It was developed in the 1980s in response to the savings and loan crisis that was occurring in the United States at that time. The Appraiser Foundation (TAF) is the current administrator of the USPAP.