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"I get articles on the computer all the time," Mr. Bernard said.
He provided a copy of an e-mail newsletter from the University of Connecticut Real Estate Center that stated: "Connecticut's single family housing markets moved down in the most populous parts of the state during the last half of 2007. On average, prices in the fourth quarter declined by 2.2 percent year-over-year at a time when inflation is nearly 2.5 percent per year. This compares to a decline of 1.5 percent in the third quarter.
"Taken together," the e-mail continued," these numbers indicate a disturbing acceleration in the rate of decline. Real estate agents report that well located houses in mint condition are selling quickly but many houses in the middle sit on the market for extended periods, punctuated by decreases in asking prices."
Mrs. Heering said that many people think that home values are falling in the area because they watch the national news and are told that that is what is going on across the country. While that might be true for the most part, she pointed out that the market has been "normal" in Bethel.
"There's been a lot in the news about the values," she said, adding that they have not declined in Bethel since 2002.
There have been times when house values in town went up rapidly, but that's not the case now.
"This is what I would call a more normal market," Mrs. Heering said.
To her, a normal market is one in which a home might take a few months to sell instead of a few days.
Mr. Bernard pointed out that in Bethel and other places fewer homes are being sold but they are still selling at the same prices.
"The town is selling less units per year, but prices aren't changing on the average sale," he said.
He added that he personally believes that home values in this area go up and down due to its proximity to New York City.
Many people who work in the city live around here.
Mr. Bernard said that when the values go up down there, the prices up here usually go up a little later.
"It's like dropping a rock in the ocean," he said, referring to the ripples that are caused.
"That market stabilizes us," Mr. Bernard added.
Mrs. Heering said many people in Bethel think that because home values are declining across the country the same situation exists here. Since that's not the case, she would like to get information out to Bethel residents so they understand the local situation. "This is what's really happening in Bethel," she said.
Many people make the mistake of taking the current mill rate and multiplying it by whatever their new assessment is to find out how much more in taxes they will be paying. However, Mrs. Heering said that that's not the correct way to do it. Those who try to figure it out that way often think that they will have to pay much more than they currently do, which isn't typically the case. Instead, she said, the current town budget is divided into bigger assessments.
She noted that one way for the mill rate to decrease is for the town's grand list to increase.
Mr. Bernard noted the commercial values have risen. He added that, as he sees it, home values usually go down when commercial values go up. Mr. Bernard pointed out that one would think that both would rise or decline at the same time, but that isn't the case for some reason.
To make sure that her office had the right information for each home when it came time for revaluation, which is under way now, Mrs. Heering said that her office did a data mailing. Homeowners were sent the information regarding their house to make sure that it was correct. The office is now in the process of reviewing the assessments people have queried.
Those who still aren't satisfied can have an informal hearing regarding their case.
"We will notify them of the outcome of that informal hearing," Mrs. Heering said, adding that those people can then apply for an appointment with the Board of Assessment Appeals if they think it is necessary.
There are two types of home appraisals that can be done when it comes to determining how much a home is worth.
One, which the town does, is called a mass appraisal. This consists of only taking into account the house itself and not what it looks like when it comes to things such as cleanliness or decoration. "We look at the structure of the house," Mrs. Heering said. For example, she only cares that a house has a kitchen. What it looks like or how clean it is doesn't matter. The only thing that does matter is that it is there.
She pointed out that many times people will tell her that they wished they knew when she was coming so that they would have had time to clean their house.
The other type of appraisal takes into account the condition of the house.
Mr. Bernard urged those who have questions about their home's value to visit the tax assessor's office in the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center. "Don't be afraid to come in," he said.
Residents can also call the tax assessor's office at 203-794-8507.
