Buncombe County Hosts Free Property Appeal Clinics After 2026 Reappraisal

Property owners across Buncombe County who opened their 2026 reappraisal notices to find dramatically higher values now have a county-organized resource: a series of free clinics running through mid-April, staffed by Buncombe County Property Assessment staff, volunteer real estate experts from the Land of the Sky Association of Realtors, and legal assistance from Pisgah Legal Services for those who qualify.

The county's official announcement states that "all properties in Buncombe County have received a new value that reflects current market values as of January 2026." The prior general reappraisal carried an effective date of January 1, 2021, making this the first countywide reassessment in five years. State law requires revaluations at least every eight years; Buncombe typically runs on a four-year cycle. The Board of Commissioners had originally scheduled a reappraisal effective January 1, 2025, but voted to delay it to account for the impacts of Hurricane Helene. County staff collected data on thousands of damaged parcels and are still working to visit, review, update, and adjust those properties.

The frustration among homeowners has been visible. Some residents have posted on social media claiming their assessed values appear to have doubled compared with previous assessments, and posts circulating online have included information about how to challenge the new figures.

Nine clinics are scheduled at community centers and libraries spread across the county. The first was Monday, March 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sandy Mush Community Center, 19 School Road in Leicester. Remaining sessions are:

March 18, 5 to 7 p.m., Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain. March 19, 4 to 7 p.m., Big Ivy Community Center, 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville. March 25, 3:30 to 6 p.m., Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Asheville, with Spanish interpretation available. March 26, 6 to 8 p.m., Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville. April 1, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road, Asheville. April 2, 5 to 7 p.m., Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview. April 9, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Drive, Weaverville. April 16, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester.

LOTSAR volunteers at the clinics can help property owners understand how market conditions affected their assessed value and connect them with programs covering filing extensions, payment plans, and property tax relief available to veterans, anyone 65 or older, and permanently disabled individuals under NCGS 105-277. LOTSAR volunteer Jonathan Hunter recently discussed the organization's participation on the "Tapped In" program on WRES.

Anyone who cannot attend in person can call in during a clinic to reach an expert directly at 828-767-5398 or 828-712-3748. Outside of clinic hours, Property Assessment staff take calls at 828-250-4940 and answer email at realestate.questions@buncombecounty.org. The Assessment office at 155 Hilliard Ave. in Asheville is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Property cards, appeal forms, and listing forms are available online at buncombecounty.org/propertyassessment, where the county has also posted the full clinic calendar.

With the April 16 Leicester session still weeks out, property owners in every corner of the county have at least one nearby option before the clinic series concludes.