Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Pierce County

Assessor-Treasurer

Question: WHY ISN'T MY MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME VALUE GOING DOWN ANNUALLY? SHOULDN'T IT DEPRECIATE LIKE A CAR?

Answer: Manufactured and mobile homes are subject to the same market forces as other real estate, whether they are located in a park or on an individually owned site. They depreciate due to age and condition the same as site built homes, but market forces can also cause them to appreciate. The Assessor is required by law to assess all manufactured/mobile homes at 100% of market value annually.

Question: ISN'T THE N.A.D.A. OR BLUE BOOK A BETTER INDICATION OF THE VALUE OF MY MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME?

Answer: The N.A.D.A. Manufactured Housing Appraisal Guide or 'Blue Book' is only used as a guideline to determine the average retail value of a manufactured or mobile home. This book is used primarily by dealers to establish prices before moving and set up costs . In order to establish the local market value for a manufactured home, (whether it is in a park or on it's own land) a physical appraisal must be done.

Question: I JUST PURCHASED MY MANUFACTURED HOME FOR LESS THAN THE ASSESSED VALUE. HOW CAN MY VALUE BE MORE THAN I PAID FOR IT?

Answer: Market value of your home is not necessarily determined by its purchase price. The sale must meet the definition of fair market value. Market Value means the amount of money a willing buyer, not obligated to buy would pay a willing seller, not obligated to sell. (WAC 458-14-005) Distress sales, sales of repossessed homes, estate sales and relative sales are not typically considered as representing fair market value. When a manufactured or mobile home is sold and it has to be removed from a site, the sale price is typically discounted to reflect the cost of moving and resetting the home.

Question: I SOLD MY MOBILE HOME TWO YEARS AGO AND I'M STILL GETTING THE TAX STATEMENT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Answer: Please contact the Assessor-Treasurer's Office, Mobile Home Department at (253)798-3676 or (253)798-2718. You will be asked such questions as, 'Who did you sell it to? Did it move? Did you transfer title or complete a seller's report? Any information you can provide will assist the office in making the appropriate changes to the account and ensuring that the tax statement and all other related information are mailed to the purchaser rather than yourself.

Question: BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MY TITLE ELIMINATED ON MY MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME, MY MORTGAGE COMPANY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD ONLY RECEIVE ONE TAX STATEMENT. WHY DID I RECEIVE A SEPARATE TAX STATEMENT FOR MY HOME?

Answer: The Assessor-Treasurer's Office has been working to transfer the title eliminated manufactured and mobile home parcel information and values to the real property record. Until the home is transferred to the real property record, a separate tax statement will be mailed. Your mortgage company should request both tax statements until you receive notice that the records are combined.

Question: I CAN'T MOVE MY MOBILE HOME TO ANOTHER LOCATION WITHIN PIERCE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE OLD WIRING. HOW CAN IT BE WORTH THE ASSESSED VALUE?

Answer: Most mobile homes can be moved within Pierce County. However, in some instances corrections may be necessary to pass a safety inspection by the Department of Labor & Industries.

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2401 South 35th Street Room 142
Tacoma, WA 98409
Hours: 8:30 - 4:30
Customer Service Hotline (253) 798-6111