Vincent Valuations warns commissioners recent commercial sales exceed 2023 tax values

Ryan Vincent of Vincent Valuations told the Alamance County Board of Commissioners on March 5, 2026, that several recent commercial property sales in the county have sold for far more than their 2023 assessed tax values, with one example showing a sale price 206 percent higher than the tax roll. Vincent, whose firm is the county’s contractor for the 2027 revaluation, presented transaction comparisons that county staff say could signal higher commercial valuations in the upcoming revaluation.

Vincent highlighted three specific sales from his presentation: the former Mebane Enterprise premises, sold in December for $350,000 versus a tax value of $162,056 (116 percent above assessment); Crescent Square shopping center in Graham, sold in June for $6.7 million versus a tax value of $4,212,194 (59 percent above assessment); and a renovated building on South Church Street in Burlington, sold Jan. 22 for $730,000 versus a tax value of $238,648 (206 percent above assessment). Vincent told the board, “Generally, we’re seeing those [commercial properties] go up substantially higher than the residential [sales],” and he cautioned, “But we still have just under a year of sales to come in, and we don’t know what the market is going to do.” The presentation referenced four recent commercial transactions in total; the three above were detailed during the meeting.

County tax administrator Brad Fowler used the March board meeting to deliver a 180-day update on the revaluation project and reported that Vincent Valuations has completed field data collection on about 37,000 of roughly 80,000 parcels. Fowler confirmed the vendor is working under a $2.6 million contract with Alamance County and said the county expects to finish the data-collection phase by March 2026. Fowler told commissioners he sees potential to return some residential valuation tasks to county staff with proper training but recommended retaining outside expertise for commercial valuation work.

Fowler outlined the operational timeline members heard at the meeting: residential review will begin immediately after data-collection finishes, commercial review will begin in September 2026, valuations are expected to be completed in January 2027, and notice mailings to property owners are planned for February, possibly March, 2027. Fowler also said he will deliver the proposed schedule of values to the board in August 2026; the board will hold a public hearing and consider adoption in September 2026, with statutorily required notifications planned in October and final adoption targeted for late October or early November 2026.

Commissioners including Vice Chair Steve Carter questioned staffing levels and the $2.6 million contract during the meeting. Fowler provided public-safety guidance about fieldwork: Vincent Valuations personnel will use clearly marked vehicles, carry official Alamance County identification badges, should never ask to enter a home, and residents were instructed to call the sheriff if anyone asks to allow entry.

With valuations slated for completion in January 2027 and owner notices to follow in February or March 2027, commercial property owners in Mebane, Graham, Burlington and elsewhere in Alamance County face the prospect of materially higher assessments if the sale-price trends Vincent displayed persist.