Month: December 2021

By now, you’ve probably received your 2021 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal or statement in the mail. Your home has done 1 of 3 things:

• Gone up in value
• Gone down in value or
• Pretty much stayed the same

According to the tax appraiser’s office, 70% of homeowners in Johnson County saw their home values increase. 17.5% saw their values go down.

Johnson County’s biggest increases

In the last tax year, Johnson County has seen its biggest spikes all around the edges of the county. With that said, tax appraisals have increased at least 10% in the cities of:

• Northern Prairie Village (where I live)
• South Overland Park
• Merriam
• East Shawnee
• Desoto

Similarly, homes with increases between 7-10% are located in:

• North Leawood
• Gardner
• Edgerton
• Spring Hill
• Shawnee

The cities with the least amount of tax increase were mid-central Overland Park and mid-central Leawood, both with an increase of less than 3%.

Building permits for residential were on the upswing as well with 1,867 issued last year with 1,621 being issued the previous year.

Johnson County will remain strong in homeownership with all the amenities it offers. For those reasons, it seems as though everyone still wants to live in Johnson County.

Should you appeal your tax appraisal?

Many homeowners have contacted me regarding their 2021 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal. Believe me, I get it. Mine went up $23,000 over last year and I live in an 800 square foot house. But I’m in the tear-down center of Prairie Village and with every new house that pops up, my taxes go up as well. I’ve appealed my tax appraisal every year and every year I’ve lost.

It seems as though everyone has their own opinion but here is what you should know before making an appeal:

• If you believe the appraised value is more than you would get if you sold your house, you probably should appeal.
• If you think your property is fairly valued but your taxes are too high, you probably shouldn’t appeal.

Your home is valued at “fair market value.” What does that mean? It means the amount of money that a well-informed buyer would pay and a well-informed seller would accept in an open and competitive market.

Case study

I sat down with a past buyer recently and went through the comps the appraiser’s office used and compared it to her specific floor plan for sold properties in the Multiple Listing Service for 2021. We both believed she had a reason to appeal her Johnson County Tax Appraisal based on the information we found.

We felt the sales that were listed on her appraisal were not the best comps that should have been compared. One was not the same floor plan and one was from 2020 when there were plenty of comparable sales in 2021.

Other helpful documentation would be a recently signed sales contract if you purchased your home in 2021, a recent appraisal, or any photographs of structural damage with bids to make repairs.

You want to show them why you think your home merits a lower value and what you think that value should be. If you live in an older home that needs updating, your home probably wouldn’t compare to recent sales.

Complaining that you think your home’s value or taxes are too high won’t help you appeal your 2021 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal. Do your homework and provide them with evidence of why you think your home’s tax bill is too high.

Unfortunately, you cannot appeal your taxes because you live on a fixed income and the new tax rate is not affordable for you.

If your tax appeal is successful and your paid taxes are reduced, a refund will be issued once the Treasurer receives the notice from the Johnson County Appraiser’s Office.

How can I help you with your 2021 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal?

Let me know if you think your recent Johnson County Tax Appraisal is too high. I’ll be glad to research your home’s value. You can take a picture of your Johnson County Tax Appraisal and text it to me, call me at (913) 515-3250, or contact me here.

Want to know the latest stats in your neighborhood? Don’t rely on the Zillow Zestimate. Here’s a quick tool that will research your subdivision and provide you with a report within minutes – direct from our local Multiple Listing Service. It’s fast and it’s FREE! Click here and insert your address.

Just for fun, check out today’s new listings in Overland Park. Call me at (913) 515-3250 if you find your dream home!

See all Real estate matching your search.
(all data current as of 3/26/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.