HousingWireHousingWire
A majority of U.S. homeowners are feeling the pressure of rising property taxes. But new data reveals that most are not taking advantage of their right to appeal their assessments — often because they don’t know they can.
A national survey conducted by property tax appeal platform Ownwell found that nearly 60% of homeowners were “shocked” by their most recent property tax bills.
Despite widespread concern — with three-quarters of respondents saying they worry about increases in their annual bills — 78% report they have never challenged their assessment.
“The survey results support the reason we founded Ownwell — there is a clear knowledge gap for homeowners understanding their right to protest their property assessment if they feel it’s incorrect,” said Colton Pace, founder and CEO of Ownwell.
Of the homeowners who said they’ve never filed an appeal, more than half (53%) admitted they were unaware they had the right to do so.
The problem is especially severe in states with some of the highest property tax rates. In Colorado, 85% of homeowners expressed concern about rising costs, followed by 82% in Connecticut and 81% in New Jersey.
Budgeting doesn’t always provide a cushion. While 82% of respondents said they planned for their tax bills, two-thirds of this group still underestimated the amount owed.
Homeowners seek small savings, ignore larger ones
The survey also highlighted a disconnect between how actively homeowners pursue small-scale savings and how infrequently they take steps to reduce larger, recurring expenses like property taxes.
More than half of respondents (51%) said they’ve price-matched retail items in the past, often for refunds as small as $5. Among Generation X respondents, 52% said they’ve price-matched purchases before, yet this same group was the least likely to protest their property tax bills.
Millennial and Gen Z respondents showed similar behaviors. About half of each group reported previous price-matching efforts, but a vast majority said they would go out of their way for savings of $60 or less. In contrast, challenging a tax assessment could save homeowners hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually.
Pace emphasized that property tax appeals shouldn’t be reserved for large investors or corporations.
“Corporations have historically been finding ways not to pay their full bill,” he said. “They have dedicated attorneys who fight for lower property taxes. Appealing property taxes shouldn’t just be for real estate investors and landlords — homeowners need help too.”
Pace said Ownwell aims to simplify the process by handling documentation, gathering evidence and representing homeowners at appeal hearings.
With the survey showing that 48% of homeowners believe their properties were not fairly assessed — and nearly 30% suspect overvaluation — the company said raising awareness of appeal rights could spell meaningful and long-lasting savings.
