Comments on: DeKalb Property Assessment Change Map

By: Ann Lang

Ann Lang — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:19:02 +0000

Jesus.

That red area next to the “2,” that’s listed as “over 20% increase?” I live there. I wish it was only a 21 or 22% increase. According to the good folks at Dekalb County, my land value increased 43% last year. AND my house value went up 17%.

Now my 1100 square foot house is valued at twice as much per square foot as my neighbor, whose house is twice as large. But apparently worth half as much.

By: Dana Blankenhorn

Dana Blankenhorn — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 23:28:02 +0000

If you zoom in on the map closely, you will find that residential areas in the northeast and northwest sides have gone down in value. The biggest increases are in the Winona Park area and southwest Oakhurst, along Oakview.

When there are teardowns happening, it means that land values are strong. We just had a 100 year old house on Park Place torn down, a big ‘un. The old “Bussey Mansion,” I called it. It’s an empty lot that was on the market for $180k due to the home’s condition.

Oh, the home I mentioned at 238 Winter is listed at $250k http://www.victorwarrenproperties.com/products/decatur.html but it’s finding no takers. At that price it too may be a teardown candidate, because it hasn’t been renovated in 40 years.

A few years ago there was a preference for fixing up these old homes. But since the effort to create an Historic District for Oakhurst was killed by the real estate interests — “Historic District is NOT the answer!” — the answer has been teardowns. Hope those who blindly opposed the district are happy about that.

By: Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:54:08 +0000

You almost made me laugh Fresca through my nose, Nell…

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:51:05 +0000

But I love to whing! Seriously, I think it’s spotty around Decatur in terms of values going up. Oakhurst prices are soaring because they started lower and the area has more room for tear down profits. On the north side, it varies. In my neighborhood, I regularly peek at the real estate flyers and open houses and prices don’t seem to have changed at all for houses in the $300-$400,000 range. Just sitting there for 5 years. There’s some $600-$700,000 tear downs and total remakes but not a whole lot. Your basic house with no major improvements is sitting stable price-wise.

By: Dana Blankenhorn

Dana Blankenhorn — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:40:30 +0000

That’s the market. Decatur housing values are up. Way up. That’s why you’re still having tear-downs and new construction, because people are willing to pay $600k for a house in Decatur.

Check out Winter Avenue on Zillow. (Or just check out your own address — Google the address followed by Zillow and it should be the first listing.) This street is on the border — the west side is Atlanta, the east side Decatur.

Zillow lists a fully-renovated home on the Atlanta side of the street as being worth $241k, and an unrenovated home across the street as being worth $314k. That home — 238 Winter — is presently unoccupied, for sale, and I believe you will find the asking price is higher than the Zillow estimate.

Point is, you pay property taxes based on valuations. Yours are rising. Fast.

One more thing. Decatur only pays DeKalb County taxes for a limited number of functions. School taxes for Decatur go to the Decatur City Schools. Other city functions are also provided by the City, like police. You pay more, but you get more, and that includes more property value.

So no whinging.