Witkin v. Lane County Assessor

IN THE OREGON TAX COURT

MAGISTRATE DIVISION

Property Tax

ANGELA WITKIN )

and ADAM WITKIN, )

)

Plaintiffs, ) TC-MD 110460C

)

v. )

)

LANE COUNTY ASSESSOR, )

)

Defendant. ) DECISION

Plaintiffs appeal the real market value (RMV) of residential property identified as

Account 0723369 (subject property) for the 2010-11 tax year. Trial in the matter was held by

telephone on the morning of January 4, 2012, and continued in the afternoon of January 5, 2012.

Adam Witkin (Witkin), a real estate agent, appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs. Bryce Krehbiel

(Krehbiel), Residential Appraiser III, Lane County Assessor‟s office, represented Defendant.

Plaintiffs‟ Exhibits 1-27 and Defendant‟s Exhibits A-M were submitted without objection.

I. STATEMENT OF FACTS

The subject property is a somewhat oddly configured two-story home originally built in

1962 that sits on 3.78 acres of land on Gimpl Hill Road in Eugene, on the outskirts of town but

within the urban growth boundary. (Ptfs‟ Ex 1.) The home has three bedrooms and two and

one-half bathrooms, and is theoretically set up for dual living, although the structure suffers from

serious deferred maintenance and other issues that call into question the habitability of the

property. (Id.; Def‟s Ex A at 2.) Witkin testified that Plaintiffs live in a portion of the home.

///

///

///

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 1

The main dwelling is approximately 2048 square-feet, and has an attached garage.

Above the garage is a second living space 816 square-feet in size. (Def‟s Ex A at 2.)1 Plaintiffs

purchased the property from a bank following a foreclosure. (Ptf‟s Ex 1.) The property was

marketed by a reputable real estate company, RE/MAX Integrity, and an agent with considerable

experience. (Id.) The home was first listed for sale on November 19, 2008, for $349,900.

(Ptfs‟ Ex 2 at 1.) Over the course of the listing, at least four offers for prices considerably below

the $349,900 list price were withdrawn. On December 12, 2009, Witkin‟s wife, Angela Witkin,

purchased the property for cash (i.e., no lender financing involved) for $168,470. (Ptfs‟ Exs 1 at

2, 2 at 1.) Witkin testified that he acted as the agent for the buyer and collected the three percent

sales commission offered by the seller bank. At the time of the sale, the property was listed for

$199,900, roughly $30,000 more than Plaintiffs paid to buy the property. (Ptfs‟ Ex 1 at 1.)

Witkin testified that the property has a number of problems and is, in all likelihood, not

habitable. Witkin testified that there are numerous leaks in the roof that allow water to penetrate

the structure. Plaintiffs submitted a bid for the removal and replacement of the roof over the

roughly 800 square-foot apartment above the garage, demonstrating a proposed repair cost of

$6,500. (Ptfs‟ Ex 7.) The photographs Plaintiffs submitted into evidence support the testimony

about the leaky roof. (Ptfs‟ Ex 8.) The water intrusion has seriously and extensively damaged

the walls and ceiling of the home. (Id.) There are also holes in the walls and vinyl flooring; and,

an unheated hallway. (Id. at 1-6.)

///

1

There is some question about the square footage of the structure. Defendant submitted a detailed diagram

showing the configuration and size of the home (including the garage) drawn and calculated after Krehbiel‟s

physical inspection of the subject property. (See Def‟s Ex A at 2.) The RMLS property listing documents submitted

by Plaintiffs as Exhibit 1 indicates that the home has a total square footage of 2442. That document also indicates

that there are five bedrooms and three bathrooms, whereas Defendant‟s records indicate that the subject is a three-

bedroom, two and one-half bathroom home. (Def‟s Ex D at 1.)

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 2

In addition, the home has asbestos ceiling tiles and fiberglass insulation. The leaky roof

creates a particularly vexing problem for the home because it has caused some of the ceiling tiles

to fall, exposing the fiberglass insulation. (Ptfs‟ Ex 8.) The home also has mold. (See Id. at 3.)

The court notes that it is commonly known that asbestos, fiberglass, and mold are health risks.

Witkin testified that there are also problems with the drinking water, and that they drink

bottled water because the existing water supply, which comes from a well, contains arsenic and

iron at levels that exceed the allowable contaminant limits for public drinking water. Plaintiffs

submitted an independent water quality analysis report, which indicates that arsenic levels are at

nine times the allowable limit and iron is at six times the limit. (Ptfs‟ Ex 6.) Witkin also

testified that the iron in the water tends to cause Plaintiffs‟ clothes to take on an orange tint; out

of necessity, Witkin does not own a white shirt. Witkin testified that the water also smells like

sulfur, which makes for an unpleasant shower experience, and that Plaintiffs do not even use the

water to brush their teeth.

The home‟s foundation has settled unevenly creating a significant slope requiring repair.

(See Ptfs‟ Ex 5 at 1-4.) According to a contract repair proposal, as of February 2009, settling had

caused a corner of the home to drop four and one-half inches. (Id. at 1.) Plaintiffs submitted

photographs that clearly depict that slope. (Ptfs‟ Ex 8 at 6.) There are also cracks in the

foundation and pieces of cinder block missing. (Id. at 4.) The contractor estimated the total cost

of repairs to address those problems to be between $18,000 and $19,000, and that the work was

dependent upon the results of an engineering report and the permitting process, either or both of

which could require more extensive repairs. (Ptfs‟ Ex 5 at 1-2.)2 Witkin testified that both the

2

The contractor proposes removing and replacing a concrete walkway at a cost of between $1,500 and

$2,500, and leveling the home (to remove the existing slope) at a cost of $16,500. The leveling work includes lifting

the structure, adding additional piers to stabilize the structure in the area where the sinking has occurred, adding

braces and brackets to stabilize the repair work, etc.

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 3

contractor‟s report and the water quality report were done as part of the due diligence process

related to earlier withdrawn offers to purchase the subject property.

Witkin offered evidence of several recent sales Plaintiffs believed to be generally

comparable to the subject property as support for their requested RMV. (Ptfs‟ Exs 9; 11; 12; 16;

18; 22; 24; 25.) While Krehbiel attempted to discredit the sale price by showing that it was out

of line with normal market transactions.

Defendant did not submit an appraisal report. Krehbiel testified that the final purchase

price paid by Plaintiffs was roughly one-half the original November 2008 list price of $349,900.

Defendant insists that the purchase price is not reflective of true market value because the bank

that was selling the home was likely under some form of duress, having attempted

unsuccessfully to sell the home for approximately one year. Krehbiel testified that the RMV for

the 2009-10 tax year was reduced by the county board of property tax appeals, at the assessor's

recommendation, from $358,789 to $188,686, based on the trended purchase price, and that the

value for the year at issue (2010-11) was only increased approximately $12,000. Krehbiel

testified that increase, in turn, was based on an inspection of the property that revealed that the

home had an attached garage rather than a detached garage, that a breezeway had been converted

to living space, and that the county‟s records contained an error in the identification of the

property, indicating that the home was a single-family dwelling when, in fact, it is a multi-family

dwelling (referred to by Krehbiel as a “plex”). Krehbiel also testified that there was discovery of

additional unidentified buildings.

Krehbiel‟s testimony focused on the fact that bank owned properties sell for discounts of

between 27 and 36 percent. (Def‟s Exs E at 5; Ex F.)

///

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 4

II. ANALYSIS

The issue in this case is the RMV of the subject property on the applicable assessment

date, which is January 1, 2010. See generally ORS 308.007.3 Oregon law defines RMV for

property assessment and taxation purposes as “the amount in cash that could reasonably be

expected to be paid by an informed buyer to an informed seller, each acting without compulsion

in an arm‟s-length transaction occurring as of the assessment date for the tax year.” ORS

308.205(1).

RMV is to be determined by methods and procedures adopted by the Oregon Department

of Revenue (Department) in accordance with certain statutorily enumerated principles. ORS

308.205(2). The statutory principles that must guide the Department in its promulgation of

valuation methods and procedures require an RMV determination based on “[t]he amount a

typical seller would accept or the amount a typical buyer would offer that could reasonably be

expected by a seller of property[,]” and require that “[a]n amount in cash shall be considered the

equivalent of a financing method that is typical for a property.” ORS 308.205(2)(a)-(b).

While there are three recognized methods for valuing property, the sales comparison

approach is generally viewed as most appropriate for valuing residential property. This is

particularly true for older properties because substantial adjustments must be made under the

cost approach and if the property is not generating income, the income capitalization approach is

inapplicable.4 Ward v. Dept. of Rev., 293 Or 506, 511, 650 P2d 923 (1982) (citations omitted).

3

All references to the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are to the 2009 edition; all references to the Oregon

Administrative Rules (OAR) are to the current rules.

4

An administrative rule promulgated by the Oregon Department of Revenue instructs that the three

approaches to value--sales comparison, cost, and income--be considered in determining a property‟s value, but

recognizes that all three approaches may not be applicable in a given case. OAR 150-308.205-(A)(2)(a) (2009).

Because the subject property is owner occupied and does not generate any income, neither party used the income

approach in valuing the subject property. Because land value is at issue, the typical methodology prescribed by the

cost approach is irrelevant.

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 5

Under the sales comparison approach, the court looks at arm‟s length sales transactions of

similar property to determine a correct RMV. Richardson v. Clackamas County Assessor,

TC-MD No 020869D, WL 21263620 at *3 (Mar 26, 2003). The has adopted an administrative

rule, OAR 150-308.205-(A)(2)(c), which states that “[i]n utilizing the sales comparison approach

only actual market transactions of property comparable to the subject, or adjusted to be

comparable, will be used. All transactions utilized in the sales comparison approach must be

verified to ensure they reflect arms-length market transactions.” “The value of property is

ultimately a question of fact.” Chart Development Corp. v. Dept. of Rev., 16 OTR 9, 11 (2001)

(citation omitted).

Plaintiff offered evidence of several recent sales believed to be generally comparable to

the subject property. (Ptfs‟ Exs 9; 11; 12; 16; 18; 22; 24; 25.) Plaintiffs further asserted that the

subject property‟s sale price was an accurate reflection of the market, which included an

unusually large number of foreclosure sales, at the time of the subject property‟s sale. However,

despite the similar qualities that these properties may share, no two properties are alike, and

Plaintiffs did not make any effort to adjust their sales to be comparable to the subject. The court

will therefore give very little weight to Plaintiffs‟ comparables.

By statute, Plaintiffs have the burden of proof and must establish an error in the record

assessment by a “preponderance” of the evidence. ORS 305.427. This court has previously

ruled that “[p]reponderance of the evidence means the greater weight of evidence, the more

convincing evidence.” Feves v. Dept. of Revenue, 4 OTR 302, 312 (1971); see also Riley Hill

General Contractor v. Tandy Corp., 303 Or 390, 394, 737 P2d 595 (1987) (where the Oregon

Supreme Court explained that the derivation of the word “preponderance” is Latin in origin and

“translates to „outweigh, be of greater weight.‟ ”).

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 6

Burden of proof requires that the party seeking relief (Plaintiffs in this case) provide

evidence to support their argument. The evidence that a plaintiff provides must be “competent

evidence” of the requested RMV of the property in order to sustain the burden of proof. Woods

v. Dept. of Rev., 16 OTR 56, 59 (2002). Because Plaintiffs‟ sales comparisons are not competent

evidence of the requested RMV of the property, they have not met their burden.

“[T]he court has jurisdiction to determine the [subject property‟s] real market value or

correct valuation on the basis of the evidence before the court, without regard to the value

pleaded by the parties.” ORS 305.412. Despite not conducting an appraisal of the subject

property, Defendant did identify several comparable sales. (Def‟s Exs G, H, I, J, K, L, M.)

Defendant offered these sales as an attempt to rebut Plaintiffs‟ assertions about the market‟s bank

foreclosure sales. Unfortunately, like Plaintiffs, Defendant did not make adjustments for any of

the many differences between the comparison sales and the subject property, and, thus, the court

cannot rely on Defendant‟s comparisons.

The sale of the subject property can provide a useful indication of the value of the

property. Kem v. Dept. of Rev., 267 Or 111, 114, 514 P2d 1335 (1973) (citations omitted). In

Kem the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that “[a] recent sale of the [subject] property * * * is

important in determining its market value. If the sale is a recent, voluntary, arm‟s length

transaction between a buyer and seller, both of whom are knowledgeable and willing, then the

sales price, while certainly not conclusive, is very persuasive of the market value.” Id. (citations

omitted) (emphasis added). However, in Kem it was also “emphasize[d] that a recent sale of the

subject property is not necessarily determinative of market value and does not foreclose other

methods of valuation[.]” Id. at 115 (emphasis added); see also Sabin v. Dept. of Rev., 270 Or

422, 426-27, 528 P2d 69 (1974); Equity Land Res., Inc. v. Dept. of Rev., 268 Or 410, 415, 521

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 7

P2d 324 (1974). The two important considerations are whether the sale was “recent” and

whether it was “arm‟s length.” Kem, 267 Or at 114.

This court has been reluctant to attach too much weight to foreclosure sales because of

the short nature of the sales and the implicit duress or compulsion on the part of the seller, which

brings into question whether the transaction was truly at arm‟s length. See Brashnyk v. Lane

County Assessor, TC-MD 110308, WL 6182028 (Dec. 12, 2011), citing Kryl v. Lane County

Assessor, TC-MD No 100192B, WL 1197444 (Mar 30, 2011) (where the court found that the

subject property‟s lengthy listing on the open market adequately dispelled concerns that its

purchase price was not indicative of the actual market value of the property). Thus, in certain

exceptional cases, a foreclosure sale price may be indicative of the property‟s actual market price

when its sale history is characteristic of a normal arm‟s-length transaction.

In this case, the December 11, 2009, sale was recent relative to the date of assessment.

Plaintiffs purchased the home for $168,470 roughly three weeks prior to the January 1, 2010,

assessment date. (Ptfs‟ Exs 1, 2.) Further, the listing history and Witkin‟s testimony also

confirm that the sale was an arm‟s length transaction because a reputable agency (RE/MAX

Integrity) had listed the property publically for more than a year, and had received at least four

withdrawn offers over the course of the listing. (Ptfs‟ Ex 2.) The sale thus conforms to what

case law has identified as the two most important characteristics, adequate time on the market

and being an arm‟s-length transaction, of the reliability of the sale price.

Defendant attempted to discredit the sale price by showing that it was out of line with

normal market transactions; Defendant argued that the price reflected what is commonly cited as

a “foreclosure discount,” that occurs due to some duress on the part of banks. The home needs at

least $25,000 ($6,500 for the garage roof, roughly $18,500 for the foundation and sidewalk)

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 8

worth of repairs, not including replacing the roof on the main home, which Witkin testified was

simply financially unfeasible. Krehbiel brought out on cross-examination that Plaintiffs moved

into the home after their purchase without making any repairs. Witkin responded that he felt

blessed to have a roof over his head because he experienced periods of homelessness during his

childhood. Witkin further testified that he did not believe most people would live in the home;

he stated that he and his wife are admittedly somewhat unconventional in their views on

adequate living accommodations. The court found Witkin‟s testimony credible, compelling, and

persuasive, and finds that the evidence Plaintiffs submitted buttresses that testimony. The court

is of the opinion that the home is, in fact, not habitable in the sense that it cannot possibly meet

code requirements. A home with leaks in the roof, holes in the ceiling, walls, and floor,

combined with undrinkable water, asbestos and mold, would deter any potential tenant from

renting the subject property. Based on the evidence the court finds that the house is a shambles;

and, as Witkin testified, it is unlikely that most anyone would live there.

Plaintiffs have established by a preponderance of the evidence that the difference

between the purchase price and the listing price accounts for the condition of the house and the

necessary repairs needed. As such the court finds that the sale price was reflective of the real

market value of the subject property as of the time of sale and as of the assessment date.

III. CONCLUSION

On the evidence before it, the court concludes that Plaintiffs have proved by a

preponderance of the evidence that the real market value of the subject property for the 2010-11

tax year should be reduced. Now, therefore,

///

///

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 9

IT IS THE DECISION OF THIS COURT that Plaintiffs‟ appeal is granted and that the

2010-11 real market value for the property identified as Account 0723369 was $168,470.

Dated this day of July 2012.

JILL A. TANNER

PRESIDING MAGISTRATE

If you want to appeal this Decision, file a Complaint in the Regular Division of

the Oregon Tax Court, by mailing to: 1163 State Street, Salem, OR 97301-2563;

or by hand delivery to: Fourth Floor, 1241 State Street, Salem, OR.

Your Complaint must be submitted within 60 days after the date of the Decision

or this Decision becomes final and cannot be changed.

This Decision was signed by Presiding Magistrate Jill A. Tanner on

July 24, 2012. The Court filed and entered this Decision on July 24, 2012.

DECISION TC-MD 110460C 10