Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Some Detroit Lakes residents expressed their disapproval with members of the city’s board of equalization concerning their annual property valuation during their meeting on April 25.
One Long Lake Drive resident, Paul Orth said his property value has risen 46% by percent in the last two years.
“My issue is the fast rise in valuation and the system that allows some properties to go up each year while other properties remain near previous levels,” said Orth. “I also observed that there are areas where few sales occur and do not receive their regular valuation adjustments. The result is that if you live in an area with few sales, your valuations are not adjusted a whole lot. These areas, I call, flying under the radar.”
According to Minnesota Department of Revenue regulations, a property’s assessed value must fall between 90-105% of the median sales price for similar properties in the same area.
Sara Sorenson, an East Shore Drive resident, said she just bought her property in May 2022 for $1.5 million, when it was valued at $1.36 million, and was confused at how it ended up being valued at $1.71 million less than a year later.
“I think that the sales price represents the fair value of the property,” said Sorenson. “While this property was on the market during the time that (the assessor) was looking at sales, and I purchased it during that time period, so really the best estimated market value is actual market value for what I purchased it for.”
She provided documents about her home sale to the board and also said the property sale included personal property, such as a dock and various appliances, which should not have been included in the property valuation.
Lowell Skoog, residential assessor for Detroit Lakes, said, if they didn’t include the personal property in the assessed value then Sorenson’s home would fall within the state’s valuation guidelines. He also said he is required to inspect each dwelling once every five years
“The whole reason for that window, 90% to 105% (estimated market value), is the Department of Revenue realizes real-estate is not an exact science,” said Skoog. “Barring personal property, we would have probably been more comfortable with the value we’re at. Now, considering the personal property, we probably are a little high.”
In total, about six residents voiced their valuation concerns to the Board of Equalization; however, Sorenson was the only resident to receive a re-evaluation by the city’s residential assessor and will move on to the Becker County Board of Equalization meeting on June 13 at 6 p.m. at the county courthouse.

Latest News



