Property tax rates by county

Millage rate (mill levy)

Property tax rate expressed as dollars of tax per $1,000 of assessed value. 1 mill = $1 per $1,000.

Homestead exemption

State-law tax break reducing property tax on a primary residence — varies wildly state-by-state.

Cap rate (capitalization rate)

Investment-property valuation metric: net operating income ÷ purchase price. Lower cap rate = higher price relative to income.

CSA (Conservation Soil Assessment) / NRCS Soil Survey

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's free per-parcel soil-type map — critical for septic design, foundation type, agricultural use, and erosion risk.

Tax abatement

Temporary partial or full property-tax reduction granted by a local government to incentivize development, renovation, or use — typically 5-20 years.

421-a / 421-g (NYC tax exemptions)

New York City residential tax-abatement programs that reduce property tax on qualifying new-construction (421-a) or commercial-to-residential conversion (421-g) for up to 35 years.

FHFA House Price Index (HPI)

Federal Housing Finance Agency's quarterly + monthly index of US single-family home prices, calculated from millions of repeat sales + refinance transactions of mortgages backed by Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.

AMI (Area Median Income)

HUD's per-metro median household income figure, recalculated annually. Used to determine eligibility for FHA loan-limit overlays, Section 8 vouchers, USDA loans, LIHTC affordable-housing, and many state down-payment-assistance programs.

Lead and Copper Rule 2024 — the federal lead-pipe inventory mandate

The 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) require every US community water system to inventory and report lead service lines. Plain-English guide.

Property tax millage — what 'mill' means and how your bill is computed

Plain-English guide to property tax millage rates, assessment ratios, and homestead exemptions. How county assessors compute your annual property tax bill.

How to Find Your School District by Address (and Confirm the Boundary)

Find which school district any address belongs to, confirm the exact boundary, and see why one street can split between two districts. A plain how-to.

Deed records — what they show and what they don't

Plain-English guide to county deed records: what gets filed, how to look up a property's history, and why zipradar aggregates only counts (never owner names).

Zoning codes — what R-1, C-2, M-1, MU mean and why your house is one

Plain-English guide to common US zoning codes: R-1 / R-2 / C-1 / C-2 / M-1 / MU. Why zoning matters for your home, your neighbors, and what you can build.

Homestead exemption — state-by-state property tax savings

Every US state offers a homestead exemption that reduces property tax for owner-occupied homes. State-by-state amounts and how to file.

Wildfire insurance in 2026 — why premiums spiked and what to do

California, Oregon, Colorado, and other Western states have seen wildfire insurance premiums double or homeowners drop entirely. Plain-English guide to the 2026 market.

NCES Common Core of Data — what district boundaries actually mean for buyers

How NCES district boundaries, school ratings, and student-teacher ratios feed real-estate decisions — and what the data does NOT tell you.

FEMA flood zones — AE vs. X vs. VE in plain English

FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer maps every US property's flood-zone designation. Here's what AE, X, VE, and AO actually mean for your insurance bill.

County assessor data — how millage rates and assessments actually combine

Property tax = assessment × millage rate, but the math has caveats. Here's how zipradar pulls + normalizes county assessor data across the top 50 metros.

Deed activity by ZIP — what aggregated transfers tell you about market trends

County recorders log every deed transfer. Aggregated to ZIP-level counts, the data reveals turnover, foreclosure pressure, and market temperature — without exposing PII.

Buying a house — the 12-dimension data checklist before you sign

Twelve federated public-records dimensions every US homebuyer should check before closing. Synthesized from EPA, FEMA, FBI, NCES, county assessors + recorders.

County recorder vs. county assessor — they sound the same, they're not

The recorder publishes deeds and mortgages. The assessor publishes valuations and tax bills. Different offices, different data, different mistakes — here's how to read both.

Property Tax Escrow: Why Your Mortgage Payment Jumps After You Buy

Your mortgage's property-tax escrow is set from the prior owner's bill, so it almost always rises after you close. Here's why, and how to prepare for the adjustment.

Title insurance — what it actually covers, why it's a one-time premium, and why you can't skip it

Title insurance protects against ownership claims that surface after closing. One-time premium ($1,000-3,000). Lender's vs owner's policy. Here's the reality.

Closing day — what actually happens + the documents you'll sign

First-time buyer closing-day reality. The 30+ documents, the wire-fraud risk, the final walk-through, and what to bring. 1-3 hours typical.

Mello-Roos + special tax districts — the property-tax extras you didn't see

Mello-Roos (CA), CDDs (FL), MUDs (TX), PIDs — special-district taxes that add to your tax bill on top of the millage rate. How to find them before you buy.

First-time homebuyer programs — federal + state + local stack

Plain-English guide to FHA, VA, USDA federal loans + state DPA programs + local first-time-buyer incentives. Eligibility, caps, and how to stack them.

Abandoned property + tax sales — buying via county auction

How county tax-lien and tax-deed sales work, redemption rights, due-diligence pitfalls, and the differences between tax-lien states and tax-deed states.

Fixed-rate vs ARM — which mortgage type fits when

Plain-English guide to 30-year fixed, 15-year fixed, and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). When each makes sense, what hybrid 5/1, 7/1, 10/1 ARMs actually mean, and how 2026 rates change the math.

Closing costs explained — what the buyer typically pays

Itemized buyer closing-cost breakdown for a typical US home purchase. Lender fees, third-party fees, prepaids, and escrow setup — what each line item means and what's negotiable.

FHA vs conventional — when each loan makes sense in 2026

FHA loans (3.5% down, 580+ FICO, MIP for life of loan) vs conventional loans (3-20% down, 620+ FICO, PMI removable at 80% LTV). Eligibility, costs, and which scenario favors which.

Property tax appeal — how to win one, when it's worth your time, and what assessors won't tell you

60-70% of property-tax appeals succeed when properly documented. Plain-English guide to the appeal process, evidence that wins, and when the $1-2k consultant fee pays off.

Buying a foreclosure or short sale — what's different, what's risky, and what you need to verify

Foreclosures + short sales can save 5-30% but bring inspection access limits, title defects, deferred maintenance, and 3-9 month closing delays. Plain-English buyer guide.