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Originally Posted by Carol Fiore
The Sumter County Property Appraiser (SCPA) uses The Villages home model to calculate the appraisal price for homes only in The Villages. It took me 2 years and 2 Value Adjustment Board (VAB) hearings to get this information from SCPA.
SCPA appraisal pricing based on home model:
1. SCPA does not work with Villages builders, so they don’t have all the models. SCPA are arbitrarily coding higher price Village home models into their standard model code thereby causing your taxes to be higher.
2. SCPA stated the DH72 models are better quality than the DH71 models. The Village Builder sales supervisor said this is NOT TRUE. The Villages use the same material in each model.
3. They hide this data from Village Residents. Outside of homes in The Villages, SCPA allows a standard sq. ft. rate appropriate for their neighborhood. All their neighborhoods get the same sq. ft. price.
4. Resale of home. The Village salespeople and outside realtors do not use your home model to list your sales price. They use the recent sales data for that area.
5. At my 2020 VAB hearing, the Magistrate stated, “I would suggest SPCA revisit the coding of the home in order that the property is valued equitably in comparison with similar properties in the immediate area.” SCPA did not follow the Magistrates advice.
I need your help to make SCPA MODEL information public with each DH code! Please email the SCPA supervisor James.Stephens@sumtercountyfl.gov. Please copy Don Wiley at don.wiley@sumtercountyfl.gov (Don is the chairman of the Sumter County Value Assessment Board (VAB)). Please request the following:
1. Please make the model codes, models in each code and property record card public information.
2. Please email me the property record cards for my entire block and the models in all the DH codes.
After you get your property record card look at Building Valuation – BASE RATE for your home and compare it to your neighbors. If you have a different BASE RATE from your neighbors, you should consider filing a VAB.
VAB (Value adjustment board) – it costs $15 to file. In the last hearing the magistrate said he would consider PREJUDICE against our class (Seniors). You can privately message me, and we can form a group to file VAB paperwork. I have the report for all DH codes. I only have the details on the Southern Oaks that list the models in each code. See attached picture. |
“Better quality” can be confusing words. Some homes in The Villages are made with wood or steel studs, some with block walls, and these days some with the Superior wall system of pre-cast concrete—my favorite. There may be a difference in price between these. I don’t know. Some have stucco outside and some vinyl. I prefer stucco, but they are both acceptable quality. Some windows are more expensive than others, but local companies are able to make good quality vinyl clad double pane windows. No problem. But they are all quality, well built. Some houses have more decorative trim. Some have fancier counters or flooring. Some things cost more, and some people equate that with being better quality. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it’s just more expensive. Extra insulation during construction is better quality. Architectural-grade shingles that are less likely to tear off during a hurricane are better quality. Maybe the faucets are usually “construction grade” and much less expensive than upgrades, but properly treated, they will last for years. I would say that all of the houses built here are quality homes. Some are fancier inside and so cost more. I suspect that behind the drywall, though, some aren’t better quality than others. Fortunately, the tax appraiser doesn’t visit your house and raise your taxes because you got an upgraded dish washer or faucet or more decorative counters. It’s passed on square footage of the house and lot, age, building material, number of rooms, and what you paid for it.