Property taxes are one of the most significant ongoing expenses homeowners face. The taxes are meant to fund local government services such as infrastructure, schools, and other essential systems.
The specific fee is calculated based on a home’s value and its location, though the amount can vary annually based on local tax laws and the home’s value. Typically, if someone's home is more valuable, they will owe more in property taxes. Home values are also re-evaluated as often as every year, which means property tax bills can change.
The issue facing many homeowners is that property taxes are growing due to increased home values and changes to local tax rates, Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner said in an April report.
The median property in the U.S. saw its property tax bill grow by 2.8% from 2023 to 2024 as over 73% of properties had tax increases during that time. In 2024, the median tax bill in the U.S. was $3,500, which was largely driven by home price appreciation.
However, Berner said many homeowners may not realize they can protest their home's value assessment. In fact, over 40% of properties nationwide could save at least $100 by protesting the assessed value, with a median savings of over $500, according to Berner.