Assement appeal

https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Services/Property-Assessments-and-Real-Estate/Appeals/Annual-Appeals

The DIY route is genuinely simple in your case — your Nov 2025 closing is the single best piece of evidence possible. Here's the full play: Step 1: Wait until July 1, 2026 (the form isn't available before then). Bookmark this page now: alleghenycounty.us/…/Annual-Appeals Step 2: File between July 1 and September 1, 2026. Easiest method: pull up your parcel on the Real Estate Portal, click the "Appeal Status" tab, and there's an online appeal option there. Filing fee is zero. You can also mail it or drop it off at 542 Forbes Ave; just don't fax. On the form, the "appellant's opinion of value" is what you'll argue. Put $469,000 (your $935,932 purchase × 0.501 CLR for 2027). Keep it round. Step 3: Get your evidence ready. You'll receive at least 21 days' notice of the hearing. What to bring (for telephone hearing, just have these on hand):

HUD-1 / Closing Disclosure from Nov 24, 2025 — this is the whole case Copy of the deed (also helps establish the arms-length nature) Optional but nice: a one-page summary doing the math: "$935,932 × 50.1% CLR = $469,000 target assessed value"

Step 4: The hearing itself is short — usually 10-15 min, often by phone. You say: "I purchased this property at arms length in November 2025 for $935,932. Applying the 2027 Common Level Ratio of 50.1%, the proper assessed value is $469,000." That's basically it. The hearing officer applies the CLR; this is well-established. One thing to expect: Pittsburgh Public Schools will likely show up as an intervenor (they monitor every appeal where the petitioner argues for a value lower than recent purchase price). Their lawyer may argue the FMV should be the full $935,932. Even if they win that argument entirely, you still get the CLR applied → assessed value of $469K. You can't really lose this one. The decision then becomes simpler: is saving the ~$1,200-2,000 in attorney contingent fees worth ~2-3 hours of your time? Given the simplicity of post-purchase appeals with a recent sale, most people in your situation DIY it. If you're traveling in late summer or just don't want to deal with it, Werner is fine — but you don't need him.