November 2025 Downs Property Digest
- Vickie A. Downs
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
A Message from Your Property Appraiser, Vickie A. Downs
Hi friends,
November has been a wonderful month across Collier County, filled with community events, meaningful conversations, and the start of our busy season as many of our seasonal residents return. Welcome back! As we head into Thanksgiving, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday. I am truly grateful for our residents and for our hardworking team here in the Property Appraiser’s Office. Nothing we do would be possible without their dedication.
This month’s edition features important reminders, community highlights, and resources to help you stay informed.
Warmly,
Vickie A. Downs
Collier County Property Appraiser
📋 From the Director’s Desk
This month’s spotlight features our TPP Department. The team is responsible for determining the market value of tangible personal property (TPP) assets for all businesses in Collier County. TPP includes the physical assets used in business operations—valued at their highest and best use as part of a going concern. Examples include furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E); leasehold improvements and trade fixtures; machinery; computers; electronics; signage; and business supplies (excluding items held for resale).
As a department, they play a vital role in ensuring fair and accurate assessments across the county. The team works year-round to analyze market trends, collect and verify data, conduct detailed fieldwork throughout Collier County, and process more than 13,000 tangible tax returns annually.
Their leadership, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy ensure all assessments comply with Florida Statutes and professional appraisal standards—upholding the transparency and trust our business community relies on.
📋 What Does the Property Appraiser’s Office Do?
The Collier County Property Appraiser’s Office has several essential functions that directly serve our residents and ensure fairness across the tax system. Our responsibilities include:
Maintaining accurate property ownership records: We track deed transfers and ensure that property ownership details are always up to date.
Administering property tax exemptions: From homestead exemptions to those for seniors, veterans, and widows/widowers, we ensure eligible residents receive their lawful tax savings.
Valuing all real and tangible personal property: Our team locates, identifies, and values property annually for ad valorem taxation, ensuring assessments reflect just value.
Our team works year-round to collect data, analyze market trends, and apply professional appraisal standards to maintain the integrity of Collier County’s tax roll. Together, these functions uphold fairness, transparency, and accountability in Collier County’s property tax system.
🏛️ 2025 Market Value: $229 Billion and Growing
We are proud to share that Collier County’s total 2025 market value reached an impressive $229 billion. This reflects continued growth and investment across our community, from residential construction to commercial development.
Our appraisers work diligently to ensure each property is valued fairly and accurately based on current market conditions. The strength of Collier County’s real estate market is a testament to the resilience and desirability of our community.
💰 Understanding Your Tax Bill
As a reminder, November tax bills are mailed by the Collier County Tax Collector.
Please note: our office does not set tax rates or collect taxes. We are responsible only for determining the value of your property and administering applicable exemptions.
💰 Maximize Your Property Tax Savings
Now is a great time to review your property exemptions to ensure you’re maximizing your savings before the new year. A few key exemptions to consider include:
Limited Income Senior Exemption – For property owners 65 or older with a household adjusted gross income below the income limit (the 2025 limit will be announced soon; this year’s was $37,694). Some municipalities also offer additional senior exemptions.
Widow/Widower Exemption – Provides relief to surviving spouses who have not remarried.
Disability Exemptions – Available for residents with qualifying disabilities, with full or partial tax relief depending on the individual case.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify for these or other exemptions, our Homestead Department is happy to help—contact us anytime at (239) 252-8141 or visit CollierAppraiser.com.
🤝 Out in the Community
Our office has been active throughout November, connecting with organizations and residents across Collier County:
Autism Collier Charter School Tour
Vickie A. Downs toured the new Autism Collier Charter School alongside Principal Emily Kafle, Board Chair Jen Mitchell, and Co-Founder Stephanie Nordin. The school’s mission and the students’ achievements were truly inspiring. The students and staff were so happy to be there, it was so amazing to see!
A Salute to Veterans – Right Men’s Club Annual Luncheon
A highlight of the month was attending the 8th Annual Salute to Veterans Luncheon. Collier County’s Constitutional Officers—Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier, Tax Collector Rob Stoneburner, Clerk of Court Crystal Kinzel, and Property Appraiser Vickie Downs—personally sponsored a table for World War II veterans so they could attend this special event. We were honored to recognize their service and hear firsthand stories from veterans across multiple branches.
Robb & Stucky – Winter Wonderland “Season of Splendor” Event
Vickie attended this festive Women’s Council of Realtors Naples on the Gulf event in support of Feeding Dreams: A Pathway to Success, which provides weekend meals for local students. A beautiful evening of community, generosity, and holiday spirit.
💡FAQ Spotlight: Protect Your Property from Fraud
Q: What’s one easy thing I can do to protect my property from fraud?
A: Enroll in the Clerk’s Risk Alert Program.
Scammers can file fake deeds, liens, or mortgages to steal property or delay sales. Collier County residents can now get notified when any document is recorded against their property.
Sign up today to stay protected:👉 https://cor.collierclerk.com/coraccess/alerts
That wraps up our October 2025 Digest. As always, thank you for allowing us to serve you. We’ll see you next month with more updates, resources, and community highlights!
✅ Need Info Now? Check Out Our Website
Whether you're a homeowner or a business owner, we encourage you to visit our office online at collierappraiser.com. You’ll find:
Tools to file for Homestead Exemption
Resources for Tangible Personal Property
FAQs, forms, deadlines, and more
Contact info, office hours, and directions
And now, the option to sign up for this monthly digest straight to your inbox!
We’re working hard to make your experience with our office as smooth and helpful as possible — 24/7. Did you know you can now do a self-service data download for your files? Learn more, along with instructions, on our website at collierappraiser.com.
Invite Us to Speak at Your Next Event
Did you know that educating our community is one of our top priorities? Property Appraiser Vickie A. Downs and our knowledgeable staff love connecting with local residents, real estate professionals, civic groups, and schools to help demystify what our office does — and why it matters. Whether it’s explaining property valuation, homestead exemptions, or how your tax dollars are calculated, we’re here to help! Interested in having a speaker from our office? Email vdowns@collierappraiser.com to request a speaker for your next meeting or event.
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