Illusions

Today I wrapped up my work and headed out to mail my eBay packages.  The trip took me first to the pond house, where I filled an order of hickory nuts and picked up my mail before heading on to the post office.  I managed to make it to there before they closed -- not an easy task these days, with shortened post office hours and longer work days.  From there it was on to pick up a few groceries and then back home to the old farm house.

Before heading down the driveway, I stopped at the mailbox and picked up the single envelope lying therein.  It was dark by this time, so I snapped on the car light to see who had sent it.  It was the county assessor's office.  "Oh goody," I thought... I knew very well this was not going to be wonderful news.  So, there I sat, still not driving the 400 or so feet down the driveway, determined to see the bad news before I drove another inch further.  Sure enough, the NOTICE OF 2011 REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT CHANGE, did not bear good tidings.  Rather, on three separate sheets, it repeated for each of the three parcels that constitute this "old farm," the Notice to Property Owners (this is where they give the times and dates for hearings and appeals), the Information on Your Mathews County Reassessment (this is where they try to make us believe the assessment has been made in a fair and equitable fashion) and the Board of Equalization (this is where they explain how the request for relief must be submitted.)  And for each of the three parcels, the amount of the current assessment for the real property, with improvement, is compared to the to-be 2011 assessment values.

In my case,

• the first "parcel," which is .425 acres with no improvements, went up 300% in assessed value....
• the second "parcel," which is 2.75 acres with no improvements, went up 290% in assessed value...
• the third "parcel," which is 6.317 acres and has the improvements, went up 90% in assessed value...

The overall new assessed value for this old farmhouse and the land she sits on is 100% more than the last time she was assessed.

Now, I understand the need to keep the properties assessed at their real value, but isn't the county just a little delusional here?  I mean, to put things in perspective, this house sat on the market for nearly a year and they could not sell it for 75% of what they are now claiming to be the true value.  The "improvements" on this property are an ancient farmhouse that was in such poor repair FHA loans were not available for it, and the garage, which is big, and which does have a large room above, in which we are currently living, but, believe me when I tell you, these improvements are not worth 50% of the assessed value.

I suppose there was a time when people could actually buy into the illusion that property was increasing in value just "because," but surely we are ALL a bit wiser now, yes?  On what planet would I have to be living to not know that there is no way in the world I could sell this place for the amount they are claiming is the "FAIR MARKET VALUE."  I will, I suppose, call the number provided, and make my appointment to appeal their assessment.   But that means I give up my time and with no guarantee of successfully changing their minds.  It just seems so insane to me.  Are we TRULY supposed to continue to buy into the illusion?  Mathews County might think so, but, I will not.  This property is no more valuable today than it was the day I purchased it, in February 2010.  And, I can look at ALL of the property sitting unsold, despite the "FOR SALE" signs that line this quiet county's roads, and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they are not going to sell for what the county has decided they are worth.  It is all just a massive illusion....

Still, the moon was pretty last night as we wrapped up, and the wood stove we purchased from Linda is fired up and keeping us warm.... 

And What is The Moon's
FAIR MARKET VALUE, I Wonder...

Warmth ... Priceless