Comparable sales (or "comps") are recent sales of properties similar to yours in size, condition, location, and features. They're the gold standard for determining what your home is actually worth.
When you file a property tax appeal, comps are your most powerful evidence. If similar homes in your neighborhood sold for less than your assessed value, you have a strong argument that your property is overvalued.
Appraisal districts also use comps to set assessed values—but they're working with thousands of properties and can't fine-tune every valuation. You can often find better, more relevant comps than they used.
Comparable sales are the foundation of any successful property tax appeal. Counties can argue about opinions and estimates all day—but they can't argue with actual sale prices.
The key is finding the right comps: similar size, age, condition, and location. A 3,000 sq ft home won't help you appeal a 1,500 sq ft home's value. Neither will a sale from two years ago or a property in a different school district.
TaxDrop's experts analyze hundreds of sales to find the strongest comps for your appeal—ones the appraisal district can't dismiss.
Your home is assessed at $425,000. You research recent sales and find three strong comps:
Comp 1: 3 bed/2 bath, 1,850 sq ft, sold for $395,000 (2 blocks away)
Comp 2: 3 bed/2 bath, 1,900 sq ft, sold for $405,000 (same street)
Comp 3: 3 bed/2 bath, 1,825 sq ft, sold for $398,000 (same subdivision)
Your home: 3 bed/2 bath, 1,875 sq ft
The average comp sale price is $399,333—about $26,000 less than your assessed value. This evidence could reduce your assessment by 5-6%, saving you $600+ per year.
You can find comps through your county appraisal district's website, real estate sites like Zillow and Redfin, or MLS data (through a real estate agent). Look for sales within the past 6-12 months within a mile of your property.
The best comps are recent (within 6 months), nearby (same neighborhood), and similar in size, age, bedrooms, bathrooms, and condition. Adjustments can be made for differences, but closer matches are more persuasive.
Three to five strong comps is typically sufficient. Quality matters more than quantity—three excellent comps from your immediate neighborhood are better than ten weak ones from across town.