Definition of "Assessment Sales Ratio"

The assessment sales ratio is a way of measuring the accuracy of a property’s assessed value when compared to the property’s selling price. This measurement gives the municipalities an analysis of how real estate is assessed in relation to how it is sold. It is a measurement that helps municipalities better organize the distribution of public funds to improve the community. 

Why are Assessment Sales ratios important?

The assessment sales ratio is used to make sure the assessments are as accurate as possible to the fair market value of the properties in a city. The reason why this process is so important for municipalities is because taxes are established by assessment ratios. If the assessment values aren’t similar to the market values, then taxes aren’t calculated properly for those properties. And taxes are also the generator of school fundings and other public funds spent in those neighborhoods.

Municipalities have assessors that are responsible for correctly assessing the value of a property. These homes are usually assessed every year, but there are taxing authorities that only do them every five years. An assessment is done by taking into account the property itself as well as other properties surrounding it. These assessments are done to determine a median assessment sales ratio in an area of a city or for the entire city (with metro-areas there are subclasses analyzed). Every house in the area surveyed is assessed, then the assessment to sales ratio is calculated for each house to determine the median ASR in an area.

This assessment to sale ratio also helps municipalities determine the coefficient of dispersion, which is a way to measure the variations of individual ratios to the mean ratio in an area. It is used to understand the consistency or interchangeability of the assessed value of the real estate in an area or neighborhood.

How is the Assessment Sales Ratio (ASR) Calculated?

The selling price of a property is divided by its assessed value. If the real estate has a selling price of $400,000 but its assessed value is 438,000, the ratio is 1.053. An assessment sales ratio below 1 shows that the property has been assessed below the market value. If the ASR is above 1 then the property has been assessed above the market value.

The formula to calculate the ASR:

Assessment to Sales Ratio = Assessed Value of the Property / Selling Value of the Property.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Increase in the value of property. The appreciation may arise for many possible reasons, such as inflation, construction of higher priced homes in the neighborhood, tax incentives, and ...

Partner in a real estate business who remains anonymous but has legal rights and obligations. ...

Legal suit in which the plaintiff sues the defendant for some reason. A counterclaim of litigation is to exercise one's legal rights. There are many causes for litigation including damages ...

Combined action of two or more people either for or against something. In real estate, used to indicate a common property ownership interest. Joint is also used to indicate a shared ...

Right to select something or perform some act. An example is a renter of property that is given the option to buy the home at the end of the rental period or to renew the lease. Not ...

An attached dwelling in a multiple housing complex having at least two floors and usually a garage. Such dwellings are typically found in condominiums and cooperatives. ...

The yield after deduction inflation and its effects. It is the return on investment stated in real purchasing power. ...

The Exclusive Right to Sell Listing is a type of Listing where the Listing Broker/Agent wins his/her commission even if he/she wasn’t directly responsible for the sale.Let’s ...

Imagine someone asking you about the definition of the real estate market. At first sight, it may seem like an easy answer. But wait! Could the real estate market meaning be more complex ...

Popular Real Estate Questions