If you bought the property recently in a normal (arm’s-length) sale, your purchase price is often the single best evidence of market value — a real buyer and seller agreed on it. When the assessment lands above what you just paid, that’s a strong, simple appeal.
When this works best
- The purchase was recent and close to the assessment/valuation date.
- It was arm’s-length — open market, not a family sale, foreclosure, or distressed deal.
- You have the closing/settlement statement (e.g. the closing disclosure) to prove the price.
The letter
[Your full name]
[Your mailing address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Phone] | [Email]
[Date]
[County Assessor / Appraisal District / Board]
[Address]
Re: Recent purchase price as evidence of market value
Owner: [Name] Parcel / account number: [number]
Property address: [address]
Noticed value: $[amount] Purchase price: $[amount] Purchase date: [date]
To whom it may concern:
I purchased the property above on [date] for $[amount] in an open-market,
arm's-length transaction. The [year] assessed value of $[amount] exceeds what I
actually paid near the valuation date, so it overstates the property's market
value.
A recent arm's-length sale is strong evidence of fair market value. I respectfully
request that the assessed value be reduced to $[amount] (my purchase price),
adjusted only for any documented changes since closing.
Enclosed: closing/settlement statement (closing disclosure) showing the purchase
price and date.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your printed name]
How to send it
Attach the closing disclosure / settlement statement (you can redact loan and SSN details — keep the price, address, and date). File it with your informal review or formal appeal by the deadline.
Notes. Some assessors discount a single sale or argue the market rose after your purchase — pair it with a couple of comparable sales to reinforce it. A few states limit how much a sale alone can drive the assessment, and a few “recapture” to sale price at purchase — rules vary by jurisdiction. If you bought a fixer-upper cheap and then renovated, expect the value to reflect the improvements. General information, not legal or appraisal advice.