Fayetteville property values skyrocket in latest revaluation 

Many Fayetteville residents were shocked last week when they received notices from the Cumberland County tax office telling them their property values have increased substantially — in some cases doubling or even tripling. 

The median sale price for a single-family home in Fayetteville was $239,000 last year, according to the city’s Economic and Community Development Department. The owner of such a home pays about $3,293 in annual property taxes under the city-county tax rate of 1.378. If the city and county do not change their tax rates, the homeowner’s new tax bill, assuming the value of their home increased by 88%, will be about $5,841 this year.

The changes are the result of Cumberland County’s 2025 property tax revaluation, a process of reassessing the value of properties to ensure equitable taxation. In North Carolina, counties are required to complete a property tax revaluation every eight years. 

Joe Utley, the county’s tax administrator, presented a breakdown of Fayetteville’s tax revaluation at Monday’s Fayetteville City Council work session. Property within the city is worth about $24 billion, a 61% increase from 2017. 

Utley said residential property values increased by 88.4%, and commercial properties increased by 27.5%. 

In the City of Fayetteville, residential property values increased accordingly: 

• Single-family homes: 87.1% 
• Multi-family homes: 181.5% 
• Condominiums: 130.3% 
• Town homes: 73.4% 

Commercial property values increased accordingly: 

• Income properties: 36.5% 
• Improved commercial: 21.7% 
• Commercial vacant land: 37.8% 
• Industrial properties: 25.4% 

The steep hike in property values has alarmed residents who are concerned their tax bills will skyrocket. However, Utley urged residents to avoid drawing conclusions before new tax rates for 2025 are set by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and Fayetteville City Council in June. 

“I know people look at that percent change and they go, automatically, ‘That’s what my taxes are going to do,’” Utley said. “And that’s not necessarily true.” 

The new property tax rates and property value assessments will take effect on July 1. Before then, property owners will have plenty of time to appeal their properties’ new appraised values. Utley encouraged residents who disagree with their new values to appeal but to be mindful that appeals should be based on evidence.

“We do not mind getting appeals,” Utley said. “We expect it and that’s just part of the revaluation process.”

Informal appeals will be accepted by the tax office through March 24. To file an informal appeal, fill out this form and drop it off, email it or mail it to the county tax office. Formal appeals must be submitted to the tax office by May 28. 

Some people can request tax relief, Utley said, including elderly or disabled individuals, disabled veterans and those with property enrolled in the Present-Use Value program, a tax savings program for forest and agricultural landowners in North Carolina. Residents can contact the tax office to determine their eligibility for these assistance programs. 

• Residents can call the county’s tax revaluation call center at 910-678-7800 until March 24. It is open 8 a.m-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 
• Residents can also talk to tax administrators about the revaluation at the county tax office, located at the Cumberland County Courthouse on the 5th floor, Room 543. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments will be given first priority.  
• Contact the tax office by email at taxrealestate@cumberlandcountync.gov or by calling 910-678-7507

Contact Evey Weisblat at eweisblat@cityviewnc.com or 216-527-3608. This story was made possible by donations from readers like you to CityView News Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.