Home address: 991 No 10 Downing St

2021 Tax Assessment: $584,660

Recent Sales Price: $400,000 – Over-taxed by 46%

Half or more of Texas homeowners are paying more than their fair share of property taxes. Most market value protests are successful, typically saving the owner hundreds or thousands of dollars. The lower value stands when appealing market value and unequal appraisal.  Appeal both every year. The Texas Comptroller reports 80% of 2019 property tax appeals by homeowners were successful.

Many owners do not protest because they do not understand the process.  Most would appeal if they know how easy it is the high chance of success. Incorrect property data such as grade, effective year built, condition, etc lead to substantial errors in appraisal district values for houses. Tax protests are resolved at the informal hearing since the result is within a “reasonable range of value”. Appraisal is not an exact science and valuations are only an educated opinion of value, not a fact. Property taxes are the largest tax most Texans face.  But it is a stealth tax hidden in the mortgage payment, disguising the size of property taxes paid.