[mikester]

The likely answer for you depends on when you bought. If you bought at say $800k 1 year ago then that is what your current assesment is based on. So then this year it would increase 1%.

If the value of your home has decreased lower than $800k though you have to file an appeal to get the assessment lower - it isn't automatic. I don't recommend calling their automated number (which apparently is all there is).

Now say you bought 4 or 5 years ago at $500k and after purchase your house appreciated to $900k in value. Your property taxes only went up 1% per year which is good but say now your value is still lower than the assessment the tax collector has - well again your at the appeal stage I think.

I haven't been through the processes so I don't know how hard they are but I'm scared of them. One thing I'm not sure about is if you do the appeal and it still comes out higher - do they now make the new value your assessed value? I'm sure they can't get away with that since they are limited to the 1% (from prop 13 I believe).

Taxes are bad.