Home address: 919 S Adams St

2021 Tax Assessment: $116,300

Recent Sales Price: $90,000 – Over-taxed by 29%

Property tax assessments not carefully reviewed lead to paying more than your share of property taxes. Either comparable sales or condition issues at your home are useful for a market value appeal of property taxes. Unequal appraisal appeals compare the level of assessment of your house to comparable houses, typically on a per square foot basis. Winning a property tax protest is easy. Getting property owners to appeal is hard.  Only 10% of Texan homeowners appeal their property taxes.

Many owners do not protest because they do not understand the process.  Most would appeal if they know how easy it is and 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. Appraisal districts usually settle appeals at the informal hearing since it costs less and takes fewer resources. 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.