News Update : Why some King County home values dropped while taxes on them rose

Enjay Malik • February 29, 2024
A wooden seesaw with a stack of money on it.

In King County, many homeowners are extremely worried as their property value has gone down, but the same decrease has not been noticed on their tax bills. This drop was consistent throughout Washington state as well as all of the country. One of the major concerns of all homeowners was that the rate at which the property value has declined does not correspond with the tax amount on the property. Alarmingly, in 15 communities where the average property value had decreased, the tax was increased making it a worrisome situation.

 

As an example, a resident of King County noticed that his property value decreased significantly whereas the tax reduction was just a fraction of that. This issue as a whole is becoming an active concern for Seattle dwellers as the same situation is arising as the tax bills are read more with increasing interest with this mathematical disparity.

A person is holding a tablet with a tax form on it.

King County's accessor John Wilson agrees with the fact that this disparity is increasing frustration among homeowners. He explained that in logical terms both values should decrease equally, however, this is not usually the case as taxes are calculated on various other factors that include jurisdiction decisions and other approved measures. The taxes are not directly related to the property value but to local laws such as school legislation and bond issues. Therefore, on the face of it, it might look like a bad hand is being dealt as property value decreases, this is not the case and should not be taken under plain mathematical calculations.

 

Changes in how much homes are worth, and the taxes people pay on them in King County show what's happening in the overall real estate market. After a time when home values went up a lot, partly because of the pandemic, things started to slow down. This meant that in most parts of the county, home values went down. But in some places like Skykomish and Normandy Park, home values kept going up. Because of this, the taxes people had to pay on those homes also went up. It is better to get help from a group of professionals or a company like United Seattle to ascertain any irregularities in property taxes. 

A man and two women are standing on stacks of gold coins.

The county assessors are trying their level best to lobby for tax relief for homeowners and another measure that brings the tax rate down to parity with property decline, but measures are yet to be implemented. John Wilson said that he feels for the homeowners who are looking down the barrel in a receding economy and increasing tax value.

 

In the end, it can be easily said that tax calculations are complicated and cannot be pinned on one factor alone like property value. This understanding or lack of it, is causing serious frustration along with an economic burden to homeowners in Seattle. This situation does not seem to be resolving soon and homeowners need to brace for the disparity which might increase in the future.

A man and a woman are sitting in front of a house.
By Victor K July 9, 2025
With the ever-increasing challenges in housing within Seattle today, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have started to pop up in popularity. This opens a wide range of working jobs for any commercial subcontractor Seattle. Understanding what they are and why they matter is an important discussion for the homeowner and the potential buyer. What Are ADUs? The accessory dwelling unit, more commonly known as an ADU, is an additional residential unit on the same lot as a primary residence. Units can also come in the form of basement apartments, converted garages, or standalone structures in the backyard associated with the primary residence. They are designed to add space without changing the character of a neighborhood. Some of the regulations regarding ADUs have been refined over time to allow the owners to develop such units. Smooth procedures for Seattle ADU permits have already enabled a lot of citizens of this city to construct these highly essential living spaces. It's all part of a bigger push to boost housing density without compromising the integrity of the community. There are two basic ways of offering an ADU for a commercial construction subcontractor Seattle which includes Prefab and a Stick Built ADU. Prefab vs. Stick-built ADUs Prefab pr modular ADUs are one-stop solutions where the ADU is premade and delivered to the construction or home site where it is assembled by a commercial subcontractor Seattle. On the other hand, a stick-built ADU is a traditional way of building an ADU at the actual site. This comes with advantages like customization and disadvantages like time delays and structural re-modeling during the project. Both types have their own pros and cons. We look at some of the basic metrics that you can use to offer a specific type of ADU or build a niche expertise as a building subcontractor Washington.
By Victor K July 2, 2025
Green and sustainable construction has become the latest buzzword in the Seattle construction industry. Any commercial subcontractor Seattle will tell you that this is the way forward and if a commercial construction subcontractor Seattle is not offering these services, the projects will dry up quickly, especially the ones associated with ADUs and DADUs. By becoming a trusted name as a building subcontractor Washington who offers green DADU building services, not only do you get more projects but free marketing as well. There are a number of advantages on offer for general contractors as well as homeowners making your commercial construction project management Seattle company an instant hit in a competitive Seattle market. We look at some of the advantages that you instantly gain and offer to your clients as a commercial subcontractor Seattle. The importance of Green DADU The first and foremost thing you should know is that people who are building DADUs in their already completed structures think differently. It is their forward-thinking approach that makes them contact a commercial construction subcontractor Seattle to add a structure to their house. The latest wave of green requirements has taken the Seattle market by storm and any building subcontractor Washington should become an expert before the bandwidth is choked. For subcontractors, this means that simply meeting the code is no longer enough. Clients want DADUs that are net-zero-ready, energy-efficient, and environmentally sound from the ground up. Builders and general contractors are increasingly looking for subs who understand these goals and can contribute solutions, not just labor. 
By Victor K June 24, 2025
Before contracting for an ADU in Seattle, it is important to know the different kinds of permits and the processes involved. Since it is usually a legal battle, it becomes a struggle costing you money, time, and reputation in the market. You must also fully understand what constitutes an ADU and its differences from a DADU. Many instances in the past have involved the wrong permit process initiation because of how the state defines an ADU and how your client does it. Let us dive into some of the steps you must take as a commercial construction subcontractor Seattle to ensure that your legal aspect is as good as your construction practice. ADU vs DADU Zoning Laws Seattle/s zoning laws allow the construction of ADU and DADU on most single-family homes. Generically, the difference is between the square footage and setback rules. As a general code, the commercial project management Seattle should additionally check for Lot zones and overlays like environment, public buildings and critical zones, etc. Proper Assessment Pre-planned site assessment is a special art that leads to better end results for any construction management subcontractor. It goes the same for any construction project but specially for an ADU since this is constructed in an already built property . The zone and code violations usually come into play at the end of the project and therefore extreme care should be exercised at the very start. Some of the important aspects to be checked are local zoning laws, lot size, slope, utility access and setbacks. Encourage clients to get a Pre-Application Site Visit (PASV) from the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) if the site has complexity. 
More Posts

We Offer All the Services You Need in One Place! We Will Save You Time and Money!

Call Us at (425) 521-7916 Now to Get a Free Estimate or a Free Consultation for Any of Our Services!

Contact Us