Revaluation

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About the Revaluation

In 2025, the Assessor’s Office will complete a revaluation. This is a city-wide review of all property assessments, based upon the current real estate market and conditions. We will make value adjustments where necessary to guarantee that all property is assessed at market value and to ensure that taxes are distributed equitably. The last city-wide revaluation was completed in 2019.

What is a Revaluation?

A revaluation is a process where the City reviews all property values to make sure they reflect current market conditions. It helps ensure property taxes are fair and accurate for everyone in Wauwatosa.

Wisconsin law mandates regular revaluations to keep property assessments aligned with market values, ensuring fair tax distribution. On average, our assessments are currently about 55% of sale amounts. We have to be within 10% of fair market value (or 90% - 110%) of sale values.

A revaluation does not increase the total amount of tax collected. Instead, it helps make sure each property owner pays their fair share based on their property's current market value.

What is the deadline for submitting a formal objection?

Will the August 2025 flood affect my 2025 assessed value?

Can I see properties that were compared to my property?

We do not offer running reports on individual properties. Instead, we do offer a spreadsheet of recent sales (https://www.wauwatosa.net/home/showpublisheddocument/6249), and you can find similar properties yourself.

Under Wisconsin Statutes, the assessor’s value is presumed correct. If you disagree with your new assessed value, it is important to provide evidence that supports your opinion of value. At this time, we are asking property owners to submit any of the following documentation for our review:

Recent appraisals from 2023-2024
Accepted purchase offers or sale contracts
Adjusted arm’s length comparable properties
Contractor estimates for significant repairs or conditions affecting value
Any other relevant documents that help justify your opinion of value

How might my assessment change?

How do I request a change to my property value?

After you receive your new property value, you’ll have the opportunity to contact the Assessor's Office with questions or concerns about your property assessment. Assessment staff may review your submitted information, perform inspections, and if warranted, make value adjustments.

There are two main ways to do this:

Open Book Period:
- Dates: Friday, July 18 - Friday, August 15, 2025
- Hours: 9am - 4pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9am - 6pm on Thursdays.
- Contact Us: Complete the contact form below or call (414) 479-8969. To request an adjustment to your assessment, you must provide supporting evidence along with your contact form. This is the responsibility of each property owner. Supporting evidence may include recent comparable sales, property condition information, or other supporting documents. The Assessor's Office does not run comparable reports for you.
Board of Review: If you're not satisfied after speaking with the Assessor, you can file a formal appeal with the Board of Review.
- A hearing date will be scheduled before the Board of Review, where both the property owner and the Assessor will present evidence supporting their respective opinions of value and the Board will issue a final determination. The first meeting will be held on August 18 at 10am.
- For additional information: Department of Revenue - 2025 Guide for Property Owners

What is "Open Book?"

How can I compare my property to other properties?

2025 Communications about the Revaluation

Communications regarding the 2025 Revaluation:

Property Description Update postcard - November 29, 2024
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article - June 16, 2025
City Assessor's presentation to the Common Council - June 24, 2025
Social media post about the Revaluation - July 8, 2025
2025 Revaluation postcard - July 9, 2025
Social media post about the postcard - July 15, 2025
"What Does an Assessor Do?" video (below)

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the city’s average assessment increase?

The average assessment increase was 54% (based on July 2025 information).

How will the revaluation impact my taxes?

Estimate how the 2025 property revaluation may impact your taxes.

What sales did the Assessor look at to re-evaluate my home?

Here is a list of all arm's-length residential sales in Wauwatosa that closed between 2022 and 2024: Residential Sales List

What does an Assessor Do?

The City Assessor estimates the fair market value of every property in Wauwatosa. This value is used to make sure property taxes are distributed fairly.

The Assessor does not set the tax rate or decide how much the City collects in taxes. Instead, they focus on determining accurate property values based on:

Recent sales
Property characteristics
Local market trends

The Assessor follows guidelines set by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and state law.