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Board reduces assessment to sale price for 2615 3rd Street North after buyer argues purchase price controls valuation
Summary
After hearing the appellant and county staff, the board voted to reduce the assessment for 2615 3rd Street North to the actual sales price of $2,575,000, citing the recent close date and lack of better in‑window comparables.
The Arlington County Board of Equalization voted to reduce the 2026 assessment for 2615 3rd Street North to the closing price of $2,575,000 after the appellant argued the sale occurred shortly before the assessment date and should determine this year’s value.
Appellant Lauren Rosala told the board she bought the house Dec. 19 and argued the assessed value issued weeks later was higher than what she paid. She presented two nearby comparables she said sold higher but were assessed lower, and urged the board to rely on the recent sales price.
County appraiser Mr. Mills described a full interior and exterior inspection and said the county revised the improvement value after correcting square footage and other items; the department’s analysis supported a revised assessment of $2,620,700. Mr. Mills noted some comparables were slightly outside the county analysis period but still informative.
Board members debated whether the sales close date and listings on or near the valuation date should govern this year’s assessment. Several board members said the sale occurred within days of the valuation and favored returning to the sales price for the 2026 assessment. The board voted to reduce the assessment to the appellant’s reported sales price of $2,575,000.
The decision applies to the 2026 assessment year; the county will incorporate the sale in next year’s mass appraisal data as well.
