Mark D Francis

Mark D. Francis is a Colorado Springs attorney whose practice covers tax law, real estate law, and tenant and eviction matters. His property tax work draws on all three areas, combining legal precision with a practical understanding of how properties are assessed, challenged, and disputed in Colorado. He handles cases that go beyond a standard informal hearing, including appeals that require formal legal preparation or eventually reach the courts. Francis evaluates every case on its merits before taking it on. He reviews the assessor's records, looks at comparable sales, and gives clients a straight answer about whether a reduction is realistic and what strategy makes sense. For property owners navigating complex situations, whether that's disputed ownership, commercial valuation disputes, or landlord-tenant arrangements that affect assessed value, having an attorney handle the process changes what's achievable and how thoroughly a case can be built.

Francis handles property tax appeals across residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. On the residential side, he reviews assessments for accuracy, identifies comparable sales that support a lower valuation, and manages the protest process through informal hearings and the Board of Assessment Appeals. For cases where the county's assessment is substantially above market value and informal resolution fails, he can pursue further review through the courts. His real estate law background adds depth to the appeals work. He's familiar with how ownership structures, easements, deed restrictions, and title complications can affect property value in ways that mass appraisal systems overlook entirely. If your property has legal characteristics that limit its marketability or usable area, that's relevant to its assessed value, and Francis knows how to document and argue that point. For commercial property owners and landlords, he applies an income-approach analysis alongside traditional comparable sales review. Colorado assessors are supposed to account for income potential in commercial assessments, but the assumptions used about vacancy rates and capitalization rates don't always match your property's actual situation. He also handles disputes where landlord-tenant arrangements directly affect assessed value, such as long-term below-market leases that suppress income and should reduce the income-based valuation. That cross-practice capability saves clients from needing multiple professionals for what is really one interconnected problem.

Francis starts by reviewing the assessor's records and any documentation you've already gathered. If the case has prior history, such as an informal hearing decision, he reviews that too. The early stage focuses on understanding where the assessment came from and identifying the strongest points of challenge. For cases going to the Board of Assessment Appeals, he prepares a formal written submission with supporting evidence: comparable sales, appraisals, income data for commercial properties, and legal documentation of any characteristics that affect value. The board hearing is a formal proceeding, and he manages the presentation and questioning throughout. He also handles the procedural side, including filing deadlines, written notices, and correspondence with the assessor's office. Clients don't need to track those details. If the board review doesn't resolve the matter, district court appeal is available for cases where the amount at stake makes it worthwhile. He's direct at every stage about when continued appeal makes economic sense and when the cost outweighs the potential benefit.

Francis serves clients throughout El Paso County, including Colorado Springs and surrounding communities. His legal practice covers commercial and residential properties across the county and extends to neighboring jurisdictions when cases require it. For commercial property owners with multiple locations across different counties, he handles portfolio cases that span jurisdictions. If your dispute involves legal complexity beyond a standard residential protest, his office can evaluate the matter regardless of where in the Colorado Springs area the property is located.