| Glossary | |
| 2.5% Owner Occupier Credit / Stadium Sales Tax Related Credit | All owner/occupied residential real property is entitled to a 2.5% reduction on property taxes. The Hamilton County Commissioners determined that the stadium credit (a tax credit associated with the sales tax which was passed by Hamilton County voters in order to finance new stadiums) on property taxes would be contingent on the 2.5% reduction. Only those property owners receiving the 2.5% reduction would be eligible to receive the stadium credit. |
| Abated Property | A tool used by local governments to exempt real estate from property taxes in order to encourage economic development within the community. State statutes define the types of abatement.
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| Acres | Total measurement in acres (43,560 sq.ft.) of a particular parcel of land. |
| Addition | Any structural improvement physically attached to the base dwelling. |
| Appraisal | The estimation and opinion of value placed on a piece of land based upon a factual analysis by a qualified professional. |
| Base dwelling | The main living area of a house, having common story height and basement. |
| Board Of Revision | A panel consisting of the Hamilton County Auditor, the Hamilton County Treasurer, and the President of the Hamilton County Commissioners or their designees set up by the Ohio Revised Code to hear appeals filed by property owners who contest their property valuation as set in the mass appraisal process. The Board has the authority to increase or decrease or make no change to the valuation. When notice is received of the Board's decision, the property owner has thirty (30) days to appeal to either the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals in Columbus or the Court of Common Pleas here in Cincinnati. If the decision is not appealed, any adjustments will either be credited to the next tax bill or a refund check will be issued. |
| CAUV Value | Current A gricultural Use Value is an adjustment to the market value when land and improvements are devoted to the production of crops, fruits, timber, or the raising of livestock. |
| Comparable sales | recorded sales of properties similar in size, use, construction quality, age, and often located within the same submarket and used as comparisons to determine the fair market value of another piece of property. |
| Conveyance | the transfer of title of land between parties. |
| Conveyance Numbers | Conveyance numbers are assigned by the Auditor's office to all deeds on which a conveyance fee is paid. Deeds presented for transfer that are exempt from conveyance fees are not assigned conveyance numbers, only deed numbers. |
| Cost Approach | An accepted valuation approach, estimating replacement cost of a structure with similar utility less measured depreciation from all sources. |
| Date | Date refers to the date of transfer by the Auditor. Previous sales indicate prior Auditor transfers and sale amounts. |
| Deed Numbers | Deed numbers are assigned by the Auditor's office to all deeds presented for transfer. Deeds on which conveyance fees are paid as well as deeds on which no conveyance fees are paid are assigned numbers. |
| Deed Type | Types of deeds or transfers. |
| Exempt Property | Property used for governmental, charitable, educational, religious, abated, and other non-profit purposes as determined by the Ohio Department of Taxation. They are excluded from real property taxation. |
| Foreclosure | After numerous legal notifications, failure to pay property taxes results in a suit being filed by the Hamilton County Treasurer and, if a judgment is obtained, a foreclosure sale of the delinquent property. The Hamilton County Sheriff holds foreclosure sales every Thursday. If not sold the first time, the delinquent parcel is offered in a second Sheriff's Sale. If not sold then, it is forfeited to the State and these properties are offered once a year, in June, at the Hamilton County Auditor's Forfeited Land Sale. For more information on the weekly Sheriff's Sale, please call 946-6400 or visit the Sheriff's website at www.hcso.org . |
| Front Foot | A land unit measure, one foot in width, taken along the street or front of the site extending the depth of the lot. |
| Homestead | A dwelling or a unit in a multi-unit dwelling or condominium owned and occupied as a home by an individual whose domicile is in this state. |
| Homestead Exemption | A program available under Ohio law that reduces Real Estate taxes for taxpayers who own and occupy their homes and are either 65 years of age or older or totally and permanently disabled. |
| Land Use Code | A three digit code denoting the most predominant use of a particular parcel of land. |
| Levy | a tax that a government or the voters impose. Levies are stated in “mills”. Click here to link to additional explanation of levies found in the 2000 Hamilton County Citizens Financial Report. |
| Living Area | The area enclosed by the outside dimensions of the heated and air conditioned portions of the house, excluding open porches, garages, and such. |
| Location | The address of a property’s actual location. |
| Market Improved Value | The most probable sale price in terms of money that a structure on a particular parcel would bring in an open and competitive market with a willing buyer and seller. (See Reappraisal and Triennial Update) |
| Market Land Value | The most probable sale price in terms of money of a parcel of land in an open and competitive market with a willing buyer and seller. |
| Market Total Value | The most probable sale price in terms of money of the land and building on a particular parcel in an open and competitive market with a willing buyer and seller. |
| Mills | a mill is a unit of taxation amounting to $1 for each $1000 of a property’s assessed value. For example, a tax of two mills on a parcel assessed at $200,000 equals $400 (2 x $200,000/$1000) in taxes. |
| Monthly Value Factor | Calculated as (AssessedValue * .875) / 12 to account for the State of Ohio property 10% Rollback and 2.5% credit programs. |
| New Construction | Any new structure or an addition to an existing building. |
| Outbuilding | Any structure on a given lot that is not physically attached to the base dwelling. |
| Parcel | an area of land contained in a single legal description. |
| Parcel Number | In this example, parcel
5990001000200 can be broken down as follows: 599 = Book; 0001 = Plat; 0002 = Parcel; 00 = Tax Exempt . |
| Reappraisal | State law requires County Auditors to physically reappraise each parcel of property in their county every six (6) years. The physical reappraisal for Hamilton County was completed for the 2005 tax lien date. The revaluation process uses information collected about each property, such as the size of the lot, the square feet of the living area, plumbing features, number of rooms, garages, amenities, etc. This information, sales data from the local real estate market, and income information supplied by property owners are all used to arrive at an estimate of the fair market value of each parcel. The market value is the price at which property should change hands on the open market between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having a knowledge of all the relevant facts. The Auditor's Office is responsible for setting the value of properties, not the assessment of taxes. As a result of the reappraisal, property owners' taxes may go up, some may go down, and others stay the same. The differences are caused by economic trends that vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and among different types of property. In Ohio, by law, assessed values are determined by taking 35% of the market value. The next complete physical reappraisal will be for tax year 2011, payable in 2012. |
| Registered Land | The concept of Registered Land was conceived in the 19th century with the establishment of private title insurance companies. These companies guaranteed a clear title to prospective buyers of real estate. This guarantee, of course, protected lending institutions and their investors as well. This concept evolved into law with the Torrens Act in 1913 that was adopted by the State of Ohio. Under this Act, any property owner can voluntarily petition to have his land "registered". Registered Land is surveyed, and the boundaries are guaranteed correct by the state. It is also subject to specific codes set by law. The title is guaranteed by a state insurance fund against loss to the property owner from land examiner and/or Recorder errors. Adverse possession cannot be claimed against Registered Land, and property owners must be notified of any involuntary liens within a specified time. All parcels that have been registered under the provisions of this law have a document known as a Certificate of Title that shows ownership. A Registered Land Examiner approved by the court must handle most of the paper work involved with a Certificate of Title. Changes to Registered Land must be approved by the Court. There is presently more Registered Land in Hamilton County than any other county in the State of Ohio. |
| Sale Amount | Sale amount indicates the TOTAL consideration for the real property, which is the sum of the new mortgage amount, the balance assumed (if any), and cash paid (if any). A sale amount of $ 0 indicates that the property was exempt from conveyance fees and no consideration was paid. |
| Sketch | An outline drawing of a structure on a parcel, showing shape and dimensions. |
| Sketch Identification Codes | Identification codes which are most commonly used on the Residential and Sketch Screens. |
| Sq. Ft. | Total measurement of the living area of a property based on exterior building measurements. |
| Special Assessments | charges for services provided by a taxing authority, and certified to the Auditor for collection. Services can include but are not limited to: garbage collection, sewer tap in, urban forestry, boulevard lighting, delinquent water billing, demolition charges, sidewalk repair, etc. A 3% fee is added to the certified amount by the Auditor for processing. Specific questions regarding a special assessment, and disputes over the validity of a charge should be directed to the taxing authority. |
| Tax Increment Financing (TIF) | Ohio law allows a local government (county, municipality, or township) to designate the new value added to a parcel or group of parcels to be exempt from real property taxation. This does not, however, change the taxpayer’s obligation, nor does it change the total valuation on the taxpayer’s property. A taxpayer located within a TIF district continues to make payments in an amount equal to the real property tax liability. But TIF payments are then directed to the local government to fund certain infrastructure needs within the community. Local governments with TIF properties usually enter into agreements with the local school district(s) to offset the school’s loss in tax revenue resulting from the exemption. |
| Triennial Update | Every three years Ohio law requires an update of every parcel of property in order to establish a current market value. The Hamilton County triennial update was the three year update subsequent to the 2005 reappraisal. It was primarily based on valid (arm’s length) sales from 2005 through October 13, 2008, with more weight given to the most recent sales. The adjustment of value was derived by calculating the difference between the existing appraised value and the sale price of properties within your neighborhood or governmental jurisdiction. The average and median differences were then reconciled by our appraiser’s judgment to arrive at an adjustment for your neighborhood or governmental jurisdiction. This percentage was applied to each parcel to reflect what we determined was the current market value of that property for 2008. A valid arm’s length sale of an individual property during 2006 thru October 13, 2008 resulted in an adjustment in value to reflect the sale price. |
| Valid Sale | An arm's length, open market transaction as of a specific date whereby there is a willing buyer and seller, each acting in what he/she considers his/her best interest; a reasonable time is allowed for exposure in an open market; payment is made in terms of cash or comparable financial arrangements; and the price represents the normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions granted by anyone associated with the sale. |
| # Of Parcels | Refers to the number of real estate parcels transferred in a particular transaction. If two or more parcels are not consolidated, they are considered separate parcels for purposes of transfer. For example, if an individual sells his/her house (one parcel) with an adjoining lot that is a separate parcel, the number "2" would appear in this field as the total number of parcels transferred. If, however, the two parcels were previously consolidated into one parcel, the number "1" would appear. |