Property owners in Orange County will get new property values this week, and the county tax administrator is preparing them for big increases in value.
The rise is attributed to the thriving real estate market, where homes are being sold at significantly higher prices throughout the county. These property value increases are unprecedented in Orange County. Home values have risen significantly in the last four years —around 52% countywide.
Like many other counties in North Carolina, this amount of increase has not been experienced before. According to a survey of 22 counties who are conducting a revaluation for 2025, the amount of increase ranges from 25% to 73%, with an average increase of 58%.
“Higher home values can lead to higher tax bills for property owners. Because of this, residents should be vigilant about reviewing their property assessments to avoid paying more than they should,” Orange County Tax Administration Director Nancy Freeman said. “The time to review and appeal your value is now, as soon as the revaluation notices are received.”
Property owners will receive notices in mid-March and are encouraged to review their property details carefully for any differences, such as size or renovations. These can be corrected using the informal appeal process through April 30, 2025. Appeals submitted from May 1 through July 31, 2025, are considered formal appeals, and will be heard by the Orange County Board of Equalization and Review. An Appeal Form will be included with the revaluation notice. There is no cost for a property owner to appeal either informally or formally.
The local tax rates for the county and the towns will be set in June according to the county or town’s budgetary needs for the upcoming fiscal year. Actual tax bill amounts will not be known until this happens. If tax bills go up, the amount of increase depends on both the value and the tax rates that are set by the governing boards.
What is Revaluation?
Revaluation, often called reappraisal, is the process of reviewing and updating property tax values in Orange County to market value as of a specific date.
The Tax Office reassesses all real property (land, buildings, and improvements) using mass appraisal methods that consider market sales, income/expense data, and construction costs. This reassessment is effective January 1, 2025, following the previous one on January 1, 2021.
What if I disagree with my new tax assessment?
When you receive your revaluation notice, if you think your new property value is considerably higher or lower than the price for which it could have reasonably sold on January 1, 2025, you should appeal your value, and it is your right to appeal.
Property owners can visit the Tax Administration’s website to review their property value, compare their property with sales in their market area, and verify their property characteristics are correct.
Instructions for appeal will be included with your new value notice. There are two appeal periods, informal and formal. Property owners in Orange County can appeal their 2025 property valuation during either of these appeal periods.
Real Property Appeal periods are as follows:
