Use comparable property sales to better understand your property’s assessed value. Reviewing similar properties that have recently sold can help you evaluate whether your assessment reflects current market conditions.
Sales data on this page includes residential property sales from July 1, 2021 through July 2024. Sales from July 1, 2021 to April 1, 2024 were used to update the City’s valuation tables for the 2024 tax year.
Start by identifying properties that are similar to yours. Exact matches are uncommon, so focus on finding properties with similar characteristics.
Consider reviewing:
- Properties slightly better than yours (larger, newer, or in better condition)
- Properties slightly less desirable (smaller, older, or in a less favorable location)
This approach, known as “bracketing,” is commonly used by appraisers.
Primary Characteristics
- Property type: Single-family, duplex, condominium, etc.
- Neighborhood: Your assessing neighborhood or immediate area
Additional Characteristics
Once you identify similar properties, compare the following:
- Living area: Within ±1,000 square feet
- Building style: Ranch, Cape, Colonial, etc. (exact matches not required)
- Grade: Construction quality (typically B to C range; compare within 1–3 levels)
- Condition: Overall upkeep (compare within 1 level)
- Kitchen and bath style: Average or modern (both valued similarly for baths)
- Year built:
- Older homes: within 50–100 years
- Newer homes: within 30 years
Note: A listed year of 1900 often indicates an unknown construction date rather than the actual year.
After identifying comparable properties:
- Review property details in the assessor’s database (including photos)
- Compare sale prices to assessed values
- Evaluate how your property compares overall
Property assessments estimate what a property would sell for based on market data. They are not exact but should be a reasonable approximation of market value.
For the 2024 tax year:
- Sales (2021–2022): ~94.5% of sale price
- Sales (2022–2023): ~84.8% of sale price
- Sales (2023–2024): ~75.1% of sale price
Assessment-to-sale ratios can vary widely (approximately 45% to 165%) due to:
- Property changes after sale
- Unique sale conditions
- Data discrepancies
- Market variability
In general, assessments should fall within about ±10% of the typical ratio for the relevant time period, based on Maine law and court guidance.