Wise County Residential Values Increase 15.9%

By Author: O’Connor
Total Articles: 100
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Property tax assessments for homes were increased by 15.9% for the tax year 2021, based on a review of 7,478 homes valued by Wise Appraisal District. Homes valued between $500k to $1 million had the largest increases, average 16.8% higher than 2020.

Review of 7,478 homes valued at $300,000 or indicates an increase in assessed value of $2.46 billion, up 15.8% from 2.85 billion in 2021. Total property taxes for 2021 for homes valued over $300,000 would total $100.17 million, based on a 2.7% tax rate before considering homestead exemptions.

Wise has 299 homes valued at $1 million or higher. They are valued at $0.18 billion in 2021, up from $0.15 billion in 2020. Values were increased for 267 homes, reduced for 24 homes, and remained flat for 8 homes.

Homes valued at $300,000 to 500,000 increased from $1.5 billion in 2020 to $1.8 billion in 2021, an 14.9% increase. Of the 5,289 in this price range, values were increased for 5,124, reduced for 105, and remained flat for 60.

Luxury homes valued at $500,000 to $1,000,000 rose to $0.86 billion in 2021 from $0.74 billion in 2020, a 16.3% increase. This ...
... group of homes had the smallest level of increase, but still a sizable increase. Most homes in this price range saw an increase in the property tax assessment. Of 1,890 homes valued at $500,000 to $1,000,000, 1,809 were increased in tax assessment, 51 were reduced and 30 did not change.

Wise County homeowners are encouraged to protest their property tax assessment, regardless of whether it was increased, reduced, or remained flat. Wise Appraisal District has limited staff to value well over 200,000 homes in Wise County. Homes are valued using the cost approach. The only option for quality control is a property tax protest. Otherwise, Wise Appraisal District staff is highly unlikely to review the estimate of value generated by their computers.

There is no risk to appealing. The appraisal district and appraisal review board may not increase the assessed value due to an appeal. The only options are to reduce it or leave it the same. 85% of homeowners who appealed in 2019 were successful in reducing their property tax assessment.

The property tax appeal deadline is Monday, May 17th.