Homeowner challenges assessment at Board of Supervisors meeting
Aug. 4, 2025 – A DeSoto County homeowner appeared before the county Board of Supervisors this week to challenge a sharp increase in the assessed value of his home, arguing that the county’s appraisal is inflated and not in line with the rest of his neighborhood.
Andrew Finger, who lives at 8800 Hunters Run Drive in Olive Branch, told board members that he purchased his 5,400-square-foot home less than a year ago for $565,000. He said the house had been on the market for a full year before he bought it in what he described as a “free and fair sale.”
“I bought the house for $565,000. It was listed at $900,000 originally, but no one made an offer until I did,” Finger said. “It’s not updated, and I don’t plan to update it. When I got the reassessment notice, it said the value was over $700,000. It dropped to $639,000, but I still think it’s too high.”
Finger told the board his home stands out in the neighborhood, which has a covenant requiring homes to be at least 2,800 square feet. “Most of my neighbors’ houses are in the $260,000 to $270,000 range. Even if you double their value, mine shouldn’t be $600,000.”
The property does include amenities such as a tennis court, pool, pool house, and detached garage — features that the county’s tax assessor says do carry permanent value.
“He’s got the biggest and nicest house in the neighborhood, by far,” said appraiser Pieter Zee. “We originally had it classified as a B-plus property and valued it at over $760,000. But after reviewing it, we lowered it to a B-minus and reduced the condition ratings of the pool and tennis court, bringing the assessment down to $639,328.”
Zee added that while the property’s sale price provides some indication of value, it doesn’t fully capture the replacement cost, which is the standard the county is required to use under Mississippi state law.
“The state mandates we be within 20% of fair market value, and we are well within that range,” Zee said. “Mr. Finger got a good deal on the house, but we can’t ignore the amenities. We’re trying to be fair to everyone.”
When asked if he had a certified appraisal to support his claim, Finger said he did not, citing the $1,000 cost. He insisted his own purchase of the property should be enough proof.
“I brought my settlement statement,” he said. “Why should I spend $1,000 to save $1,000? I’m trying to save money.”
Members of the board explained that without an independent appraisal, they had little basis to adjust the value further.
Finger was reminded that his house is appraised at just $104 per square foot, well below current construction costs.
Board attorney Adam Emerson emphasized that the burden of proof in tax appeals falls on the property owner. “The only people who can give a value for property are either the owner or a certified appraiser. We ask for that third-party support to ensure fairness.”
After a lengthy discussion, the board offered Finger the option to table the decision and return with an appraisal at a future meeting. Finger declined, saying again that he did not want to spend the money on one.
With no further evidence submitted, the board voted to approve the assessor’s valuation of $639,328.
In a separate matter, the board reviewed the assessment for Dorchester Place Apartments. No representatives appeared on behalf of the property, and the board voted to uphold the current valuation after hearing from the appraiser, who noted that owners failed to submit income documentation that could have reduced their assessment under a special provision for income-based housing.
Walmart representative Randy Ellison also spoke to the board to request additional time to work with the assessor’s office on multiple property assessments, expressing concern about 30–40 percent valuation increases across their stores in DeSoto County. They committed to submitting appraisals for review in the coming weeks.
