October 2025 Downs Property Digest
- Vickie A. Downs
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
A Message from Your Property Appraiser, Vickie A. Downs
Hi friends,
As we welcome the fall season here in beautiful Collier County, I want to take a moment to recognize our incredible team at the Property Appraiser’s Office. Nothing we accomplish would be possible without the dedication, professionalism, and hard work of our employees. I truly believe we have one of the best—if not the best—teams in all of Collier County government.
Something new that I’m especially excited to introduce in this month’s edition is “From the Director’s Desk,” a new monthly series that will spotlight one of our department directors, sharing insights about their work and important updates from their division.
I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated socks during our Socktober Drive in support of Beverly’s Angels. Your generosity made a real difference for local families in need.
Finally, you may have noticed some exciting updates to our website! Our IT and development team has been hard at work implementing new features to make it easier for residents to navigate property data and access information. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and I want to personally thank our team for their continued commitment to innovation and service excellence.
Warmly,
Vickie A. Downs
Collier County Property Appraiser
📋 From the Director’s Desk
This month’s spotlight features Robert Epperson, our dedicated Director of the Improvements Department. Robert oversees the valuation of all improved residential properties across Collier County—a vital function in ensuring fair and accurate assessments for every homeowner.
Under his leadership, the department conducts thousands of field inspections each year for new construction, additions, and remodels. His team’s detailed data collection and analysis form the foundation of our property records and play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of our annual tax roll.
Robert’s commitment to accuracy and transparency ensures our assessments meet the highest professional appraisal standards and remain fully compliant with Florida Statutes. His work embodies the precision and public trust that define our mission at the Collier County Property Appraiser’s Office.
📋 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
It’s been a busy and inspiring month connecting with community members across Collier County!
Naples Reagan Club – Vickie A. Downs attended alongside guest speaker Bob Rommel, Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute and former State Representative for Collier County.
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty – Vickie and Director of Homestead, Annabel, spoke with local realtors about exemptions and property assessment processes.
Lunch & Learn with the Gogan Team at eXp Realty – Another great opportunity to share updates and answer questions about homestead exemptions, appraisals, and how to better serve property owners.
East Naples Civic & Commerce Luncheon – A great afternoon featuring guest speaker Tim Aten from The Naples Press and Gulfshore Business. It was wonderful hearing valuable insights on local business and community growth.
🎃 Happy Halloween
Our team had a spooktacular time celebrating today — costumes, candy, and plenty of laughs! Have a safe and happy Halloween, Collier County!
💡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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