Median property values up 7.8% in southeast Kent

Median property values are up 7.8% in the southeast Kent/east Auburn areas and up 2.5% in Lake Youngs, according to the King County Assessor’s Office.

The Assessor’s Office has begun the annual process of mailing re-valuation notices to taxpayers. Notices will be arriving soon in the SE Kent/east Auburn and Lake Youngs areas, according to a July 28 news release from the Assessor’s Office.

“While home values did not rise significantly countywide, some areas, such as Auburn and Kent are seeing a lot of demand and therefore increases in median value, as more and more buyers are being priced out of Seattle and the eastside,” King County Assessor John Wilson said.

Data indicates that home sale prices and overall home values have been relatively flat in the aggregate compared to last year. As always, values vary from city to city and neighborhood to neighborhood – some are up, and some are down. One significant factor in residential home values in King County is the increase in values in suburbs around Seattle, especially in the south end.

The assessor has been monitoring the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While housing values have remained relatively steady so far, some commercial sectors have had their values severely impacted. These changes in value will be reflected in the 2021 assessed value for taxes payable in 2022.

Each year, county assessors appraise every commercial and residential parcel in the state. These values – set effective as of Jan. 1 by state law – are then applied to the next year’s tax bill. Property values are being set on Jan. 1, 2020, for taxes due in 2021.