Unequal Appraisal

What Is Unequal Appraisal?

Unequal appraisal happens when similar properties in your area are valued inconsistently.

Your home is assessed at $500,000. The identical house two doors down is assessed at $450,000. Same size, same age, same neighborhood.

That's unequal appraisal.

Why It Happens

Counties use computer models to value thousands of properties at once. These models make mistakes.

Common causes:

• Incorrect property data (wrong square footage, lot size, or features)
• Outdated comparable sales
• Inconsistent application of valuation formulas
• Manual errors in data entry

The result: some properties are valued accurately while others are over-assessed.

Why It's a Strong Protest Ground

Most tax codes require equal and uniform assessment. Properties should be valued consistently within the same area.

When yours is valued higher than comparable properties, you have a legal basis for a reduction — even if your assessed value matches market value.

How to Prove Unequal Appraisal

1. Find comparable properties — homes similar to yours in size, age, and location
2. Compare assessed values — pull public records for each property
3. Calculate the difference — show that your assessment is higher per square foot
4. Present the evidence — submit it with your protest or appeal

Unequal appraisal is common — and correctable.

If your assessed value is higher than comparable properties, you have grounds for a protest. And you don't need to prove your home is worth less than the assessed value.

You just need to prove it's valued higher than similar homes.

Your home: 2,000 sq ft, assessed at $400,000 ($200/sq ft)

Neighbor A: 2,000 sq ft, assessed at $360,000 ($180/sq ft)

Neighbor B: 2,100 sq ft, assessed at $378,000 ($180/sq ft)

Your property is assessed 11% higher per square foot than comparable homes. That's unequal appraisal.