Property assessments mailed out to county residents

Property valuations are hitting mailboxes — and earlier than usual.

For the first time since becoming an annual assessment county in 1990, notices were in the mail before the state’s May 31 legal deadline, said Assessor Peter Van Nortwick.

County residents can expect to receive “notice of value” statements from the Clark County Assessor’s Office, if they haven’t already. The notices reflect market values as of Jan. 1, as required by state law.

Property owners have 60 days from the date on their notices to appeal property values to the board of equalization. Forms and details are available at www.clark.wa.gov/board-of-equalization/documents.html.

Based on county records, Van Nortwick said housing prices continue to increase. On average, home values have returned to their 2005-2006 levels but are still below top values seen in 2007.

He said the inventory of available homes appears to be stabilizing after dropping for the past three years. Now, a home in Clark County takes an average of five months to sell, indicating an active market.

The number of new construction permits so far this year has outpaced construction permits for all of 2013.

For more information, go to www.clark.wa.gov/assessor or the second floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. If local property owners don’t receive their notices by today, they should call the assessor’s office at 360-397-2391.