If you’re a homeowner in Durham, North Carolina, you likely remember the shock of your 2025 property tax reassessment. After years of rising home values, Durham County mailed out notices reflecting dramatically higher assessed values for thousands of homes. For many, it felt like a gut punch — including my own.
I decided to appeal my Durham County property tax assessment. By relying on objective market evidence rather than personal hardship, I successfully proved that my home was overvalued by about 7%, saving over $1,600 across the next four years and reducing my long-term tax base. Here’s how I approached it — and how you can too.
Why the 2025 Revaluation Shocked Durham Homeowners
Durham County conducted its most recent property revaluation, effective January 1, 2025. This was the first reassessment since 2019, and housing prices had appreciated considerably during that time. Many homeowners received notices showing assessed values far above what they expected, reflecting general market growth.
While some “sticker shock” was inevitable due to rising home prices, a jump in assessed value doesn’t automatically mean the county’s valuation methodology is perfect. Even as the county used its own comparable sales (comps) to determine each property’s value, there’s room for variation — which is where a homeowner appeal can make a difference.
Thousands of Durham homeowners filed appeals with the Board of Equalization and Review, but many cases were denied because they lacked clear, market-based evidence. My goal was to build an appeal grounded in real data, not emotion.
Understanding the Durham Property Tax Appeal Process
If you believe your assessed value doesn’t reflect true market conditions, you can file an appeal with Durham County. Here’s a quick overview:
- Review Your Notice – Your valuation notice includes instructions and deadlines for appeals.
- Research Property Data – Durham provides public records and online tools to examine assessed values and neighborhood comps.
- Submit a Formal Appeal – You can appeal online through the Tax Help portal or submit a paper form to the Board of Equalization and Review.
- Deadline Is Key – For 2025, appeals were due before June 16, 2025.
Remember: the only grounds for appeal are differences between your assessed value and market value as of January 1, 2025. Personal financial hardship or affordability concerns aren’t considered.
My Evidence-Based, Market-Driven Approach
Many homeowners focus on how much the county’s assessment “hurts their budget,” but my appeal never included affordability. Instead, I focused entirely on market trends and comparable sales to show that my home was overvalued.
Step 1: Analyze Long-Term Market Trends
Using Redfin and local MLS data, I examined Durham County housing trends over the past five years. Prices had certainly increased since the last assessment, but my research allowed me to see:
- How the broader Durham market had appreciated
- Which neighborhoods were leading the growth
- Where my home fit relative to the local trend
This gave me a realistic baseline for what my home was worth in January 2025.
Step 2: Collect Comparable Sales
Next, I gathered recent sales of homes similar to mine in size, age, condition, and location. I made sure to:
- Use homes sold close to the valuation date
- Adjust for property-specific differences (square footage, lot size, condition)
- Include enough comps to show a consistent trend
By combining long-term trends with recent sales data, I built a clear, objective case showing that my property’s assessed value was about 7% too high.
The Outcome
After submitting my appeal, Durham County reviewed my evidence many months later. Because I presented a credible, data-driven case, the tax office agreed even before my hearing that my valuation was too high.
- Assessed value reduction: ~7%
- Estimated savings over four years: $1,600+
- Long-term impact: Reduced tax base until the next revaluation in 2029
The key takeaway: appealing a property tax assessment in Durham can work if your case is based on verifiable market evidence, not personal circumstances.
Tips for Durham Homeowners Considering an Appeal
If you’re thinking about appealing your Durham County property taxes, keep these tips in mind:
- Use Objective Market Data – Look at long-term trends and recent comparable sales, not just one or two cherry-picked numbers.
- Focus on Market Value – The county evaluates your home based on what it could reasonably sell for, not your ability to pay.
- Check County Data – Durham’s Tax Help portal lets you verify property details and view neighborhood comps.
- Meet Deadlines – Missing the appeal window means waiting until the next reassessment cycle.
Final Thoughts
Navigating a property tax appeal can feel overwhelming, but preparation and data-driven evidence make all the difference. My success shows that even in a booming housing market like Durham’s, it’s possible to challenge overvaluation and save money — not just for the short term, but long-term as well.
If you’re a Durham homeowner staring at a steep tax bill, remember: with research, patience, and objective evidence, you don’t have to accept the first number the county assigns. Your home’s market value can be defended — and that defense pays off.
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