Property tax hikes vs homestead exemptions - which side are you on?

I was looking at my Fulton County tax bill from 2024 and noticed my assessed value went up 12% from last year, even though the market around my place in East Atlanta has cooled off. Some folks say we should push for bigger homestead exemptions to cap increases, but others argue that keeps schools and roads underfunded. Where do you land on this debate around Atlanta?

2 comments

2 Comments

amyb548d ago

I mean, I'm in East Atlanta too and had the same sticker shock when my assessed value jumped way more than what our house would actually sell for. What worked for me was actually going through the formal appeal process with Fulton County's Board of Assessors, not just relying on the homestead exemption cap. I pulled comps from the last six months in our neighborhood, showed them three properties that sold for less per square foot, and got my valuation knocked down by about 8%. It was a hassle with all the paperwork, but it saved me more than the exemption would have on its own. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather fight the assessment directly than count on a blanket cap that could leave schools short.

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jason116d ago

That's a solid point about the comps, but here's something I haven't seen anyone mention yet - what about those of us with older houses that have weird layouts or need major repairs? I'm over in Grant Park and my place was built in the 40s with knob and tube wiring still in some walls, but the county's assessment doesn't account for any of that because the market looks at the land value more than the house itself. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like a lot of the sticker shock comes from how much the dirt under our houses is suddenly worth, not the actual building we're living in.