Due diligence

Understanding Assessed Value

Understand assessed value in Canadian tax sale research and how it differs from price, bid, and market value.

Assessment is not a purchase price

Assessed value is a public assessment figure used for taxation. It may lag market conditions and may not reflect title, access, condition, or sale restrictions.

Use assessment as a comparison tool

Assessment can help identify unusual spreads between public value and minimum bid. Those spreads should trigger deeper research, not automatic bidding.

Verify the assessment source

Confirm assessment numbers, property class, land size, and improvement details directly with official municipal or provincial records when available.