How Often Do Property Taxes Rise?

If you own property or are considering a real estate purchase, you are probably concerned about property taxes rising in Napa County, CA. If you’re not, you should be—these taxes can rise significantly over time, placing an unexpected burden on your budget if you’re not careful.

But do property taxes rise each year in Napa County, CA? Not necessarily. Here’s the scoop on how and when property taxes typically rise, and what you can do about it.

Property sales

Most tax authorities reassess properties when they are sold. That means when you buy a home or commercial property, your tax bill may go up compared to what the previous owner paid each year. Keep this in mind as you make your future budget for a new property.

The new value will be based on the price of other properties in the area and any improvements that have been made to the property since the last assessment. The new tax bill may also reflect different tax exemptions based on the homeowner’s qualifications.

Property improvements

If you make improvements to your property, this can cause an increase in your tax bill. Often, when an area sees property taxes rising in Napa County, CA, it’s because many of the buildings are being renovated, enlarged or enhanced. This causes the value of the property to increase, so the tax bill naturally increases as well.

If you plan to build an addition to your home, add a deck, install an in-ground pool or make other significant improvements, keep in mind that part of your budget should cover potential increases in tax payments.

Tax schedule

Some tax authorities have a set schedule for reassessing properties. This is often done on an annual basis or every three years. If this is the case, you can expect to see property taxes rising in Napa County, CA based on this regular schedule. If you’re not sure whether your area has a set reassessment schedule, contact a local appraiser to find out. These professionals have in-depth knowledge of local practices and laws regarding property taxes.

New laws

Another factor that can cause an increase in property taxes is a change in local laws. For example, a community may pass a law to increase taxes in order to provide better funding for the local schools. Citizens can vote on these laws to influence whether or not they pass and go into effect. It’s also possible that new laws could pass that lower property taxes. However, these are much rarer than those that raise the taxes.

Learn more

Find out more about property taxes rising in Napa County, CA from your local experts at County Appraisals Inc. We’ve been the area’s premier source for appraisals and valuations since 2008. Our expertise includes agricultural-related properties typically developed as vineyards, wineries, rural estates or single-family residential uses on acreage. We provide appraisals for everything from lending, to estate tax valuations, to estate planning, to purchase negotiations. Reach out to us today for more information or to schedule your next property assessment.

Categorised in: Property Taxes

This post was written by Writer