Does Alpharetta send its own property tax bill?
Yes, and it surprises a lot of people. The City of Alpharetta's 2026 Property Tax Guide says the city's Finance Department bills and collects city taxes itself. The Fulton County Board of Assessors sets the home's value. The city guide lists current-year city taxes as due December 1.
Why this matters: most loans have an escrow account (money collected with your monthly payment so the lender can pay your taxes and insurance for you). That account has to cover both the Fulton County bill and the City of Alpharetta bill. I build both into your payment estimate. I also make sure the closing attorney and your loan servicer know there are two bills. When everyone knows, a missed city bill is easy to avoid.
Where do I file for homestead in Alpharetta?
You may file in two places. A homestead exemption is a property tax break on the home you live in. Alpharetta offers its own exemptions on top of Fulton County's. Per the city's 2026 guide:
- The basic homestead and county senior exemptions are filed with the Fulton County Board of Assessors.
- Alpharetta's senior exemptions are filed with the City Finance Department.
- The city also lists a floating homestead exemption, which limits how fast your taxable value can grow. It says applications received by April 1 count for the current year.
Fulton County's Board of Assessors takes applications online or at its offices. The general Georgia rules are on my North Georgia and Metro Atlanta guide. The key point: Alpharetta homeowners, especially seniors, may have a second form to file.
Buying your next home in Alpharetta: what should I plan for?
If you already own a home and are buying the next one, here's what I go over early:
- How big the loan will be. Depending on price and down payment, an Alpharetta loan can land close to the conforming loan limit (the top loan size Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will buy). A loan just over that line is a jumbo loan, which has different credit, savings and paperwork rules. Sometimes a small change keeps you under the limit. Sometimes jumbo is the better fit. I'll show you both.
- Buying before you sell. If you'll own both homes for a while, the lender counts both house payments. The exceptions: the current home is sold, or it meets the rules for counting rental income. We plan for that before you make an offer.
- Using your equity. Equity is the part of your current home you own outright. It can help pay for the next one, but how and when you tap it changes what you qualify for.
What this means for your mortgage
- Plan for two tax bills. Ask me to show the city and county amounts separately in your estimate.
- Check the loan size early. Try the mortgage payment calculator and the affordability calculator. Then we'll compare conventional and jumbo options.
- File homestead with the right office. County first. Then the city, if you qualify for an Alpharetta senior exemption.
- Already own here? A refinance review can make sense when your goals or the market change.
Self-employed? See my self-employed mortgage page. For anything I didn't cover, my North Georgia and Metro Atlanta guide has the statewide basics.
Alpharetta mortgage questions
Does the City of Alpharetta bill property taxes separately from Fulton County?
Yes. The City of Alpharetta's 2026 Property Tax Guide says the city's Finance Department bills and collects city taxes. Fulton County sets the value. The guide lists city taxes as due December 1. Your escrow account should be set up to pay both bills.
Where do I file for a homestead exemption in Alpharetta?
File the basic homestead exemption with the Fulton County Board of Assessors. File Alpharetta's own senior exemptions with the City Finance Department. The city's guide says applications received by April 1 count for the current year.
Can I meet with you in person in Alpharetta?
Yes. My office is at 1835 Lockeway Drive, Suite 306, Alpharetta. Many clients also like phone, video and secure online documents, so we can do whatever works for you.
Will my Alpharetta purchase need a jumbo loan?
It depends on your loan amount, not just the price. If the loan is above the conforming limit, it's a jumbo loan. I'll show you where your numbers land and whether a different setup makes more sense.
Programs that come up here
Nearby communities
- RoswellRoswell's Historic District has its own design review, and the city takes its own homestead applications through June 1.
- MiltonMilton's AG-1 acreage, barns and riding arenas raise appraisal and loan questions most suburban homes never face.
- Johns CreekJohns Creek is mostly HOA neighborhoods, and HOA dues count toward what you qualify for, just like taxes and insurance.
- CummingForsyth County takes homestead filings past April 1, and Lake Lanier homes come with Army Corps shoreline rules worth knowing first.
Sources
General local information, not legal or tax advice. I don't maintain an office in Alpharetta unless noted; my office is in Alpharetta, Georgia. Subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not a commitment to lend.