A happy buyer of the home at 683 Vincente Ave in Berkeley will save about $1600 every year on Berkeley’s costly parcel taxes, because the home’s “dwelling spaces” are not all taxed. These taxes pay for services residents use like schools, parks, libraries and the Fire Dept. They are unrelated to assessed value and Prop 13. The home with more dwelling space pays a lower parcel tax bill

683 Vincente Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707 | MLS #40989702 | Zillow

This North Berkeley home’s finished upstairs rooms are not taxed, and the home’s basement, where the laundry is located and where one can walk upright, are not taxed. So, the home is only charged tax for 1469 ft2, for parcel taxes of: $3578

A home in South Berkeley, like 808 Allston, is taxed for all of the unfinished spaces, lower than 6 ft. in height, beneath the dwelling unit. The total parcel tax bill for this: $4914