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Board affirms $888,100 assessment for Burgoyne property after appeal
Summary
The Albemarle County Board of Equalization unanimously affirmed the assessor’s $888,100 valuation for Walter and Patricia Burgoyne’s property on May 1, 2025, rejecting the owners’ requested reduction to $794,200.
The Albemarle County Board of Equalization on May 1, 2025, unanimously affirmed the assessor’s $888,100 assessment for the property owned by Walter and Patricia Burgoyne, denying the owners’ request to reduce the assessment to $794,200.
The board heard the Burgoynes’ arguments that the assessor’s value exceeded fair market value, citing the property’s $785,000 sale price, a set of comparable sales, and automated estimates from online sites. The owners also argued there were inequities among neighborhood assessments and raised concerns about the assessor’s compliance with state regulation and IAAO ratio‑study standards.
Assessor’s office staff responded that the county uses a mass‑appraisal model calibrated to neighborhood sales, noted that the assessor’s office provided one‑story comparables as a courtesy to match the owner’s evidence, and said a staff member had contacted a representative at the listing agent’s office (not necessarily the listing agent herself) to learn more about the sale. Assessor staff explained that mass appraisal produces a range of assessment‑to‑sale ratios and that the assessor’s model and chosen comparables supported the assessed value.
During the hearing the Burgoynes disputed whether assessor staff had actually spoken to the listing agent; assessor staff said a representative in the listing agent’s office provided the information that was recorded. The owners also alleged the assessor’s office had not completed required on‑site reviews and ratio studies; assessor staff said they perform mass appraisal processes and provided the neighborhood sales used in their model.
Board members questioned details of the comparable sales, basement finish treatment in the model, and the short time the property spent on the market (the listing went from active to pending in four days). After discussion the board concluded the owners had not met the burden of proof to overturn the assessor’s valuation and moved to affirm the assessment. The motion to affirm passed unanimously.
The board recorded land value at $202,000 and improvements at $686,100 (total $888,100). The appeal record includes the owner’s submission, the assessor’s packet, and the hearing testimony.
