Paying property taxes is an integral part of owning a home in Texas. But how exactly do property taxes work? There is no state property tax in Texas, so property taxes are only...
In Texas, two essential factors contribute to your property tax bill: the appraisal value of your home and the tax rates set by the local taxing units. Since you can’t...
A home appraisal is an estimate of the value of a particular property. Appraisal values can impact numerous aspects of their owners’ lives and finances, including equity, the cost...
Some home improvements can increase your property taxes. It’s important to know which ones do, which ones don’t and how you can manage the difference...
If you haven't claimed your homestead exemption – even if you only recently acquired the property -- you are overpaying on your property taxes. This exemption...
If you are a homeowner in Harris County, Texas, it’s essential that you know how your annual property taxes are determined. Too many people overpay their property taxes....
The real estate market is constantly in flux, but what makes a property increase in value? While a rise in property value is excellent news if you’re trying to sell your...
Homeowners face an uphill fight at the Appraisal Review Board this year. The Appraisal District uses prior year home sales to establish assessments for the current year...
So, it’s April and you’ve received your new proposed property tax values from the Tarrant Appraisal District or the Denton Appraisal District. Or maybe you haven’t received...
Many property owners file their own protest rather than use an agent. How does that work out? According to one chief appraiser, about 50% of self filers never...
Because reducing your Market Value -- even if not below your Capped (or Assessed) Value will pay dividends in the long run. Failing to do so can be very costly as soon...
According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ Annual Market Report, 2020 was an exceptional year for the real estate market. According to all the trends - properties sold, total home...
In Texas, there are a few property tax exemptions you can file for to limit how much your Texas property taxes can increase per year. This article will focus on one exemption, the Homestead exemption, which provides a residential property own a capped value on property tax increases year over year...
Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) is the largest appraisal district in Texas, encompassing the Houston metropolitan area. It’s responsible for accurately valuing $627 billion...
Even though your taxable value hasn’t increased from last year’s taxable value your property’s position in the market isn’t the same as last year’s.
Two Reasons: 1. The Property Tax Code provides that in the year following a successful protest the Chief Appraiser may not increase the market value of a homesteaded...
Rising values are a blessing and a bane to homeowners and the problem is only getting worse in the DFW market. Yes, your equity increases with increasing...
Yes, it happens more than you would think. Texas’ Constitution prohibits discriminatory practices in assessing taxes. For example, suppose your recently purchased property...
We have three major advantages: One is we have access to better data than the appraisal district because you know your property better than they do. Our clients tell...
In an attempt to keep taxes low some home buyers will specify that MLS not disclose the purchase price. It's not a good idea. The appraisal district, seeing a deed...
You qualify for the General Residential Exemption if (1) you owned the property on January 1; (2) you occupied it as your principal residence on January 1; and (3) you...
Local taxing authorities (cities, counties, hospital districts, school districts) must publish certain information and schedule public hearings before approving a tax rate...
Neighborhood, Class and Effective Age are criteria that resonate with the Appraisal Review Board. A Realtor's Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) doesn't recognize them the way the ARB does...
What's "Market"? That's what every ARB panel asks and the answer is subjective. So your value is also. The classic definition, paraphrased, is that market is the price....
A tear down can be a double whammy against you. Appraisal districts impute value to habitable improvements but buyers deduct for the cost of removing them...
Short answer is Yes. Longer answer is Rarely Happens. The ARB is the only authority that can raise a proposed (or "Notice") market value after it's published by the Chief Appraiser...
In recent years about 60% of the homeowners who protested their values obtained reductions. The others include many whose values were already at or below market...
Even though your taxable value hasn’t increased from last year’s taxable value your property’s position in the market isn’t the same as last year’s.
Even though your taxable value hasn’t increased from last year’s taxable value your property’s position in the market isn’t the same as last year’s.
Short answer: Yes, you should protest to the Appraisal Review Board even if you won a property tax reduction last year. The appraisal district and the...
A prominent doctor who became a client of Property Tax Protest last year had protested his property tax value to the Denton Appraisal Review Board unsuccessfully three years ago. He was frustrated by the...
Even though your taxable value hasn’t increased from last year’s taxable value your property’s position in the market isn’t the same as last year’s.
Don’t pay more than your fair share of property taxes