The jump usually comes early, when the county reassesses at your purchase price. How big it is, and whether taxes keep climbing afterward, depends on your state. California is the notable exception, thanks to Prop 13 (passed in 1978). For an existing owner, assessed value can rise at most 2% a year no matter how much market value climbs. The catch comes at sale: the county reassesses at the new purchase price, and the 2% cap restarts from that higher basis. A buyer stepping in after years of appreciation often sees taxes jump to reflect the sale price, then rise slowly from there. Most other states work differently. Places like Texas and New York reassess toward market value regularly, whether or not the property just sold, though many offer homestead exemptions that soften the bill for owner-occupants. In those states your taxes can climb without any sale at all, simply because nearby sales pushed assessed values up across the area. So the pattern varies: in fast-appreciation stretches, buyers in uncapped states can see sizable jumps, while slower periods bring steadier increases. Rules and exemptions differ by state and sometimes by county, so confirm the specifics with your local assessor's office (and check whether a homestead exemption applies to you) before you budget the payment. One more thing to plan for: if you escrow taxes and insurance with your mortgage, a reassessment can push your monthly payment up later, which catches some new owners off guard in the first year or two.