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Pender County · Surf City, NCSurf City, NC property taxes. Prices stalled. Check the notice.
The typical home in Surf City was worth about $622,000 in January 2026, 0.3% less than a year earlier. A notice that went up anyway deserves a second look.
Check my Surf City home for free →
What Surf City home values did
Surf City values fell 0.3% in the year to January 2026, and sat 1.2% under the November 2024 high. That's in line with Pender County as a whole (-0.5%).
Since January, values have risen 2.7% through August 2026.
| Month | Typical value | vs. a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| January 2021 | $393,000 | +15.8% |
| January 2022 | $519,000 | +32.0% |
| January 2023 | $603,000 | +16.1% |
| January 2024 | $615,000 | +2.0% |
| January 2025 | $623,000 | +1.4% |
| January 2026 | $622,000 | -0.3% |
| August 2026 (latest) | $638,000 | +2.7% since January |
Peak since 2021: $629,000 in November 2024. January 2026 was 1.2% below it.
What to check on your notice
If your 2026 notice shows a higher value than last year, ask why. The typical Surf City home lost 0.3% over the same stretch. A higher number can still be right for a specific home, for example after a remodel, but the county tax assessor should be able to explain it.
How Surf City compares nearby
Among 8 Pender County places, Surf City has the 6th largest drop from its peak and the 2nd highest typical value. Statewide, its 1-year change ranks 253rd of 631 North Carolina places, from weakest to strongest.
| Place | January 2026 | 1-year change | vs. peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampstead | $485,000 | -0.4% | -0.8% |
| Rocky Point | $367,000 | -1.1% | -1.5% |
| Burgaw | $281,000 | -3.6% | -4.0% |
| Ivanhoe | $165,000 | -4.6% | -7.7% |
| Currie | $237,000 | -8.9% | -10.0% |
| Atkinson | $213,000 | -6.3% | -8.2% |
| Surf City | $622,000 | -0.3% | -1.2% |
| Topsail Beach | $952,000 | +3.3% | At peak |
Deadline and where to file
Surf City values are set by the local county tax assessor. Ask for an informal review from the county assessor, then request a hearing with the county Board of Equalization and Review (BER) in writing or in person before the BER adjourns. The BER first meets between the first Monday in April and the first Monday in May, and normally adjourns by the third Monday after its first meeting and no later than July 1. In reappraisal years it may sit until December 1. The listing period runs from the first business day of January through January 31.
Reading this in fall 2026? The 2026 BER sessions have ended in most counties. The exception is a county that reappraised effective January 1, 2026, where the BER can sit until December 1, 2026, so check right away. Otherwise your next chance is spring 2027: the January 2027 listing period, then the BER meeting between early April and early May 2027, closing by July 1, 2027. If your county reappraises effective January 1, 2027, expect new values and a BER open into late 2027, with a December 1 limit.
The Pender County guide covers the full North Carolina appeal process: forms, fees, hearing levels and what happens next.
Building a Surf City case
The numbers above describe the typical Surf City home, not yours. Surf City is part of the Wilmington metro, but your evidence should be local. Sales a few streets away usually beat sales across the metro.
- Bring recent sales of similar homes near your property, valued as of January 1 of the reappraisal year.
Get your Surf City appeal report
Start with your address. Vulorean checks your assessment against recent comparable sales and builds a value report you can bring to your North Carolina appeal. Eligible reports are free during launch; an account is required and local filing fees are separate.
Check my property and get a report →Vulorean was built for California first. North Carolina forms, deadlines and filing rules vary, so confirm them with your local office before filing. If something in your report looks wrong, email support@vulorean.com and we'll get it fixed.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, mid-tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted, through August 2026, from Zillow Research. Rules: N.C.G.S. 105-322 Board of equalization and review, N.C.G.S. 105-286 Reappraisal schedule, N.C.G.S. 105-290 Appeals to Property Tax Commission, N.C.G.S. 105-307 Listing period. Vulorean is an independent service, not a government office. Confirm dates and forms with your local office.