A property tax appeal succeeds or fails on evidence, and the strongest evidence is comparable sales — recent sales of homes like yours that sold for less than your appraised value implies.
What makes a good comp
- Close in location — same neighborhood or subdivision is best.
- Similar size — within roughly 10–15% of your square footage.
- Similar age and style — a 1990s ranch isn't a great comp for a new build.
- Recent — sales close to the reappraisal date carry the most weight.
- Arm's length — avoid foreclosures and family transfers, which don't reflect market value.
Where to look
- The county Assessor's public property search and recent-sales data.
- Public real estate listings for recently sold homes nearby.
- Your own purchase, if you bought recently at a price below your assessment.
How to present them
List three to five strong comps with address, sale date, sale price, square footage, and price per square foot. Show how your appraised value sits above what those sales support. Adjust for obvious differences (a comp with an extra bedroom, say) so the comparison is fair.
TN.tax does this work for you — our analysis pulls and adjusts neighborhood comps automatically. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.