Home address: 8207 Turquoise St

2021 Taxable Value: $286,908  

Recent Sales Price: $210,000 – Overtaxed by 37%

Texas property owners can avoid paying excess property taxes by taking several basic steps. Appraisal districts are flexible on market value appeals given the large number of houses they value and that are protested. Property owners can appeal both market value and unequal appraisal. It is difficult to persuade property owners to protest their property taxes.  But 60 to 80% of those who do are successful. 

Some property owners do not appeal due to a concern the appraisal district will want to inspect their house.  However, the appraisal district is MUCH too busy during the appeal season to even think about asking to inspect a property.  Assessors do not visit houses because of appeals. Incorrect property data such as grade, effective year built, condition, etc lead to substantial errors in appraisal district values for houses. Appraisal districts aggressively settle appeals since they have only 65 days to settle most of the appeals. Protesting your property taxes annually is analogous to regularly changing the oil in your car.  Preventative maintenance avoids serious problems.