In the county of Wyandotte in Kansas, homes have been appraised for 200 percent or more than their sales prices. After years of such practices, Unified Government Appraiser Gene Bryan stepped down from his position, according to a report from KSHB-TV in Kansas City, Mo., although the report did not connect the resignation to the apparently inflated appraisals.
“Gene Bryan has announced his resignation as the Wyandotte County Appraiser,” KSHB-TV quoted Unified Government officials as saying. “He will leave the position in December. Gene is a knowledgeable and experienced appraiser whose hard work is appreciated. After 12 years with Wyandotte County, Gene feels he has accomplished much and is ready to pursue other interests.”
Al Banbebber lives in the Maple Hill section of KCK where he said homes around him sell for around $50,000, but his home was appraised at $80,000.
“If I could sell my house for what they say it’s worth, I’d be gone and out of Wyandotte County,” Banbebber told KSHB-TV.
Wyandotte County real estate broker John Altevogt said he had been monitoring this for years.
“The houses were selling for way under what the county was appraising them for,” Altevogt said. “I first started checking this in 2007.”
Altevogt said he went to Bryan with his findings, but the high appraisals didn’t stop. Altevogt found lower income neighborhoods were being hit the hardest, and in some cases saw 200 percent to 300 percent property tax increases.