What’s really happening with property values in Cabarrus County?

If you’ve heard claims that property taxes are now so high that families are being forced out of their homes, you’re not alone. The topic has sparked understandable concern in Cabarrus County. But a look at verified data from public County records shows a different picture: homeowners are not being displaced, and foreclosures remain extremely low.

Cabarrus County has nearly 100,000 residential properties.

  • In 2024, the County recorded five foreclosures; three of those homes were already vacant.
  • So far in 2025, there have been eight foreclosures; seven of those were vacant.

That’s about one foreclosure for every ten thousand homes. Most cases involved vacant or estate-owned properties, not families losing their homes.

What is property revaluation?

The state requires every county in North Carolina to update property values at least once every eight years so that each home’s assessed value matches what the market shows. Growing counties, like Cabarrus, will sometimes update more often to stay current. They must:

  • Look at actual home sales from recent years
  • Use the same method across all neighborhoods
  • Have their work reviewed by the N.C. Department of Revenue

If the state finds that sale prices and assessed values are too far apart (more than about 15%), it requires the county to complete a new revaluation.

Revaluations help keep the system fair. They prevent long gaps where values fall far behind the market and then jump all at once. They also update values when the market drops, as it did in 2012, when many homeowners saw lower assessments and lower tax bills.

Why do tax bills change if revaluation isn’t a tax increase?

A higher property value does not automatically mean you will pay more in taxes.

After each revaluation, counties must calculate a revenue-neutral tax rate, the rate that would bring in the same amount of money as before the revaluation.

Even with that neutral rate:

  • Homes that increased more than the county average may see higher bills
  • Homes that increased less than average may see lower bills

In addition, fast-growing counties sometimes set the tax rate slightly above the revenue-neutral rate to keep up with growth and essential services.

The main idea is this: the revaluation redistributes the tax burden based on updated property values. It does not automatically raise the total amount collected.

Where Do Property Taxes Go?

Property taxes fund services used across the county, including:

  • Schools
  • Emergency and public safety services
  • Parks and recreation
  • Road and infrastructure needs

These are essential parts of daily life and depend on stable funding.

The Bottom Line

Cabarrus County is growing, and property values are rising, but the data does not support claims that families are being forced out of their homes by property taxes.

Foreclosures remain rare. Support is available for anyone who needs help paying their taxes. And the revaluation process, created and overseen by the State of North Carolina, is designed to keep values accurate and fair, not to drive homeowners out.

Programs that can help

If paying property taxes is difficult, several programs may help:

  • Elderly or Disabled Exclusion
  • Disabled Veteran Exclusion
  • Circuit Breaker Program (limits taxes based on income)

For those who do not qualify for these programs, the County can offer payment plans. For help, call the Tax Administration office at 704-920-2166.

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