These areas are not alone. Most cities have experienced rapid appreciation in home values. This is a positive for many people, especially when considering the low level of inflation experienced over this period. The problem in this scenario relates to increased property tax bills.
Many homeowners look forward to rising property values, but are unhappy with the resulting tax bill.
Over half of all people that go before an appeals board win some kind of tax relief. The odds are in your favor. For many communities, it may be several years past. In this case, you re contesting the value of the home at that time and not its current value. It may be more difficult to gather historical information on values.