Practical, plain-language resources to help property owners, home buyers, and researchers understand county tax assessments, deed records, and cadastral maps.
Why buying a home in Florida, California, or Texas often triggers an unexpected 50% to 150% jump in property taxes the year after closing, and how statutory assessment caps reset upon transfer.
Why deed records in Texas, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and North Dakota legally withhold sale prices from the public, and how county appraisal districts estimate values without deed records.
A breakdown of how county parcel numbers work (Book, Page, Parcel), the difference between an APN and a legal description, and how to read property boundary lines and easements on a plat map.
What to do when your county assessment is too high, how to catch square-footage and condition errors, gathering neighbor comps, and presenting evidence before the Value Adjustment Board.