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How do assessed values affect the transaction prices of homes?

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  • Fischer, Marcel
  • Hauf, Patrick
  • Stehle, Simon

Abstract

Property taxes are commonly levied as a percentage of a home’s assessed value (AV). AVs should affect home prices through opposing channels. An unexpected increase in AV implies higher tax payments, which should hurt a home’s selling price (tax channel). On the other hand, the increase should have a positive effect since AVs serve as reference prices (anchoring channel). In a quasi-experimental setting exploiting geographic variations in AV-publication dates and reassessment frequencies, we find that a higher AV leads to a lower transaction price, indicating that the tax channel prevails. Disentangling the aggregate effect, we document that empirically, the anchoring channel does not play a major role. Our results thus suggest an exacerbation of previously documented inequities caused by taxation.

Suggested Citation

  • Fischer, Marcel & Hauf, Patrick & Stehle, Simon, 2026. "How do assessed values affect the transaction prices of homes?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:184:y:2026:i:c:s0378426625002304
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2025.107610
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General

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