Help make Sumter County Property Market Value for Seniors Public!!

[Carol Fiore]

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[Carol Fiore]

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[Bilyclub]

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.


The sales person makes a recommendation of what they think your sales price should be, and a good one will take into consideration what model the house is. Certain models are more desirable and thereby more valuable. It is the seller who actually decides how much they want to list the house for. Anyway list price should have nothing to do with real estate assessment. It should always what the house sold for.

[BrianL99]

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.

What a bunch of nonsense. Valuations for real estate taxes are an imperfect system, based on reasonable assumptions about homes, neighborhoods & selling prices. It doesn't matter what "Model" your home is or that you spent an extra $5000 to get upgraded floors and your home is worth more than a neighbor's. All that baloney, is just "sales talk" and means nothing much in real life.

I have a team that does Tax Abatement work for a large commercial portfolio, with a few pieces of residential real estate in the mix. Unless a home is mis-valued by 10% or more, it's hardly worth the aggravation to bother with it ... in 25 years, I've only seen that happen once.

Just pay your real estate taxes and don't waste your time, trying to save $200. Its more aggravation than it's worth.

[Gpsma]

Like i care what my house is worth. It is most likely your last home. But i guess people still live in a world that is 40 years old

[Babubhat]

They can be off by 15 percent and it considered fair. appeal if unhappy. That’s your remedy. End of story

[Carol Fiore]

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[Babubhat]

The system of taxation is well established law. Good luck in overturning centuries of precedent.

Perhaps you should consult with an expert in real estate taxation before expending energy on this quest. This is like pushing a boulder up a mountain,

Tax Estimator - Sumter County Property Appraiser (https://www.sumterpa.com/tax-estimator/)

[kkingston57]

What a bunch of nonsense. Valuations for taxes is an imperfect system, based on reasonable assumptions about homes, neighborhoods & selling prices. I doesn't matter what "Model" your home is or that you spent an extra $5000 to get upgraded floors and your home is worth more than a neighbors. All that baloney, is just "sales talk" and means nothing much in real life.

I have a team that does Tax Abatement work for commercial portfolio, with a few pieces of residential real estate in the mix. Unless a home is mis-valued by 10% or more, it's hardly worth the aggravation to bother with it ... & 25 years, I've only seen that happy, once.

Just pay your real estate taxes and don't waste your time, trying to save $200. Its more aggravation that it's worth.

Great and poignant reply.

[Worldseries27]

I trust don wiley to get to the bottom of it all

[MandoMan]

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.

[seecapecod]

The sales person makes a recommendation of what they think your sales price should be, and a good one will take into consideration what model the house is. Certain models are more desirable and thereby more valuable. It is the seller who actually decides how much they want to list the house for. Anyway list price should have nothing to do with real estate assessment. It should always what the house sold for.

List price is what the market is willing to pay for x size home and lot, homesite (view price or no view), age of home, updates, etc and yes the model. And of course the seller must agree to the listing price.

[eremite06]

I was a Florida licensed General Appraiser back in the 90's and represented property owners before the Value Adjustment Board in Miami-Dade County. County property appraisers do not have access to the interiors of homes and unless an owner needed to file a permit, the appraiser would not have a record. The initial assessment is based on the cost factor of the improvement (structure) and added to the land value based on the market prices. You could try to argue cost factors with the appraiser but you are fighting a losing battle. Just as one sale does not make a market, a set cost price per square foot can't apply to every home.

As an aside, I remember seeing the results of the last Value Adjustment Board for Sumter and I don't think anyone won an appeal

[Karmanng]

Sorry the image is not very good. I can send you the entire report for all areas. The Magistrate made the Village Models public in the last VAB hearing. My email is carol_fiore@yahoo.com.

I have the melrose/montclair model just purchased last july 1 was closing date at 415,000 yup I cant read it

[Carol Fiore]

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[Babubhat]

You get kudos for fixing an error but Don’t mistake what you have a done as a great legal victory over the system. You took a casual appeal approach and able to remedy the issue. Statutory filing protect your legal right

Every increased assessment I ever received was appealed and settled by taking to the assessor. The burden is on the taxpayer. All sophisticated commercial properties do this.

[Carol Fiore]

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[Bilyclub]

List price is what the market is willing to pay for x size home and lot, homesite (view price or no view), age of home, updates, etc and yes the model. And of course the seller must agree to the listing price.

I was replying to the OP's post, so your point is?

[Carol Fiore]

The system of taxation is well established law. Good luck in overturning centuries of precedent.

Perhaps you should consult with an expert in real estate taxation before expending energy on this quest. This is like pushing a boulder up a mountain,

Tax Estimator - Sumter County Property Appraiser (https://www.sumterpa.com/tax-estimator/)


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[Carol Fiore]

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[MrChip72]

2521 Thornburg DH70C4 DH70WT4 Paid $610,000 Marsh Bend
2828 Messina DH70C4 DH70WT4 Paid $418,000 Chitty Chatty
They both have the same DH70 code, in a different village and over 2 miles away.


2521 Thornburg is a desirable location overlooking a nice large pond with a view of tall oaks.

2828 Messina is in DeLuna, not Chitty Chatty. That lot backs on to private farmland. No view.


2497 Thornburg DH72 WT4 DH72C4 PAID $459,100 Marsh Bend Bridgeport
952 Akin Way DH72 WT4 DH72C4 PAID $686,700 Chitty Chatty Lantana-10
They both have the same DH72 Code, in different villages and over 4 miles away.



2497 Thornburg like the previous home mentioned, has a desirable location overlooking a nice large pond with a view of tall oaks.

952 Akin Way has an exceptional view and is a waterfront lot over a Lake comparable in size to Lake Deaton.

These are very much cherry picked comparables. These are not the same at all.

[Woodbear]

I respectfully disagree with you, with this post on Next Door, Talk of the Villages and VAB hearings, SCPA is fixing the Model codes for the Seniors taking the high-end homes out of the standard homes. Until I get the new Model codes and the Trim notice, these new codes should correct the overpayment for Seniors. I have examples of Seniors paying over $700 every year because this code is incorrect.

By chance did they already change our codes? I thought I was once listed as a DH72 (this was just a couple weeks back). I now see our home listed as a D73C4i (D73C4i). I too have a valuation question. I live in a group of 8 homes built in 2021. 7 of 8 saw their valuation (comparing against purchase price) decrease by $50,000. For some reason, ours went up $20,000. When I asked the lady at the tax office she said it was because of our house. To use an analogy, I would assume if the lake rose.....then all boats would be elevated, not just one. All she could repeat was......It is your house. I live in a larger Woodside. No lake view, no water view, no large lot. I have hardly no grass with a kissing lanai. It makes my blood boil when I see a Million dollar home with a pool, 3 car garage and a lake view being assessed for $40K more than mine.

[VApeople]

I live in a larger Woodside. No lake view, no water view, no large lot. I have hardly no grass with a kissing lanai. It makes my blood boil when I see a Million dollar home with a pool, 3 car garage and a lake view being assessed for $40K more than mine.

Even though we do not like the Woodside model, many people do. If yours is "larger" than the standard model, that would probably make it appear more expensive to the tax accessors.

[Carol Fiore]

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[Carol Fiore]

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[Pairadocs]

[QUOTE=Carol Fiore;2218721]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.

So, are we shocked that the Villages would be singled out to be "punished" ? If you have read the comments sections following ANY story concerning villagers or the Villages, in the on line Villages news "paper", then you realize the hate that exists for anyone living in the villages, and the very existence of the villages, is as vile and deep as resentment can get. Of course the political class of Sumter County seeks the support and votes of the "locals", and sense the loudly proclaimed for villages and villagers never stops, are we surprised the appraiser would do all he can to "punish" those who live here. When you understand the hate for T.V's, you really have to wonder if those living "outside" the community even realize that while it has taken land, disturbed nature, increased the traffic, disrupted their rural "life style", it has also brought many many advantages, but having a separate set of appraisal rules for one specific (and hated) group of citizens, no, I think there must be something illegal to that, you think it might even be a constitutional issue ? Disgusting, but, expected based on the how even death wishes, such as "wish the pandemic had wiped them all out and we could have our land back" (wow, that's anger !) have been directed our way.

[graciegirl]

I overpaid $1600 in property taxes because of my model. Every year I will be overcharged by $400. I just want the data to be public. Seniors should know how their property taxes are calculated. (Modeling is only done in The Villages-Seniors) The reason I get overcharged is because they do not have all the model in their calculations causing most of us to be overcharged. In my research, I see others being overcharged by $700 per year.

If you want some of these examples, please email at carol_fiore@yahoo.com

Prices of homes have skyrocketed in The Villages in the last three or four years. THAT is the reality. AND it will make their appraised value go up as well. THAT IS THE REALITY.

[Carol Fiore]

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