Property assessors offices in Washington 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 become a Washington state property assessor 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 Washington property tax assessors, 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 Washington property assessors have a state-issued license if they will be involved in transactions requiring a federal loan of $250,000 or more.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Complete the courses needed to perform Washington property assessments

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

I recommend: Armbrust & Associates is approved by the Washington State Department of Licensing to provide required training for appraisers in Washington. Pierce College Continuing Education provides the approved pre-licensing training need to become a Washington appraiser.

Get on-the-job training to perform a Washington property assessment

Job training for performing property assessment in Washington has specific requirements, as laid out by the Washington 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 Washington State Department of Licensing provides the amount of work experience required for each type of appraiser in Washington. The Washington State Legislature provides the specific documentation requirements for an appraiser's work experience in Washington.

Become one of the licensed property assessors in Washington

Washington recognizes four categories of appraisers. A trainee must work under the direct supervision of a licensed appraiser. A state licensed appraiser may perform appraisals on residential property worth up to $1,000,000 and non-residential property worth up to $250,000. A state certified residential appraiser may work on residential property of any value and non-residential property worth up to $250,000. A certified general appraiser can perform appraisals on all types of property.

I recommend: Real-Estate-Career-Info.com summarizes the licensing requirements for each appraiser category in Washington. Rockwell Institute provides the requirements for getting an appraiser trainee license.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Washington 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.

Taxes on Washington land values account for 30% of the state's total revenue. They fund parks, schools, fire protection, libraries and recreation. Property assessors in Washington appraise property at 100% of its true and fair market value. All personal and real property is subject to tax unless it's exempted by law.

There is a lot of information to aid your real estate investments at a Washington state property assessor office, including ownership changes for properties, records of Washington land value, property descriptions and up-to-date maps of property lines. Assessors also analyze the cost of building a new property, trends in property sales prices and the average expense for renting property. There are many ways that the information obtained through Washington property assessment is useful. Consider the following when dealing with assessors:

1. Determine property values using the information gathered by Washington county assessors.

2. Figure out if a Washington property assessment represents fair market value for your property.

3. Compare similar properties to track property market trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know how Washington property assessors operate

Knowledge is power. If you don't understand your assessment bill, you may be paying more than your property is worth.

I recommend: The Department of Revenue Washington State helps you understand the property tax system and who must pay for what. Bankrate.com explains how property assessments are completed; just click on "Property" for more information.

Use online records and tools to obtain Washington property assessment information

Washington property assessors make it easy to search through records because most post them in online databases and provide a variety of tools to help you search. Washington assessor property taxes are public record and there are a number of free county databases, along with those you can subscribe to.

I recommend: Searchsystems.net’s online tool, DirectPass is a complete database for property assessments in Washington. For around $5 a month you can browse property tax records by municipality. Intelius’ tracking tool provides Washington assessor information for a small fee. Skipease is a free Washington property tax search which provides specific links to assessment offices.

Estimate your taxes based on similar Washington property assessments

If you're buying an investment property that's similar to several others in the same vicinity, it's safe to assume that Washington property assessors will assess your property at an amount close to what the neighbors will pay. Unless there are vast discrepancies in the condition, age or size of the building or lot, your taxes will be comparable.

I recommend: Get property tax information by simply typing in your neighbor's address or the address of an investment property into Assessor Links USA’s search tool, a free Washington property tax database. Several municipalities, including King and Grant counties have online search capabilities with a variety of tools like interactive maps, property comparison, classification descriptions and more. Just type in the pertinent information on the King County Department of Assessments or Grant County Geographical Information Systems and Information Technologies site. Lewis County PATS Map has parcel maps available online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact property assessors in Washington if you think your property is over-assessed. File a grievance form with the County Board of Equalization by July 1.

Property assessors offices - Washington 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 Washington property assessments. These sources generally provide information for the following categories:

1. State-specific information on Washington property taxes. All property assessors in Washington 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.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find information that is common to every Washington state property assessor

The Washington State Department of Revenue offers extensive information on property assessment, including a FAQ on property taxes. This may include state laws on property assessment and answers to frequently asked questions.

I recommend: The Washington Department of Revenue administrates property taxes in Washington and also offers a FAQ on property assessment in Washington. The Washington State Board of Tax Appeals provides extensive information on appealing a property tax assessment in Washington.

Get information on property assessment from your local Washington county assessors office

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

I recommend: The Assessor-Treasurer for Pierce County provides answers to basic questions regarding property assessment in that county. The Franklin County Assessor has a FAQ on property appraisals and the property tax appeals process.

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

A mortgage lender 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: The Appraiser Group of Washington offers a detailed description of the property appraisal process in Washington. Armstrong Appraisals in Wenatchee also has a sample appraisal document.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Washington 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.

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

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Examine the laws that control property assessment in Washington

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

I recommend: The Washington State Legislature specifies the role of the property assessor in Washington's property tax deferral program. The Association of Washington Cities provides an excerpt of tax legislation that deals with a recent increase in the assessment of property taxes in Washington.

Study the procedures for accessing records on Washington assessor property taxes

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

I recommend: The Benton County Assessor provides the legal requirements for assessing property, including the property valuation methods that Washington allows. The Assessor for Douglas County offers an overview of the regulations on property assessment in that county.

Review laws on property assessors in Washington from law firms

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

I recommend: Ahlers & Cressman posts articles on issues of property assessment in Washington, such as the case of Storedahl Properties, LLC v. Clark County. D. Douglas Titus has an article on property assessment laws for inherited property in Washington.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The quality of Washington 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.