Home address: 6 Georgian Row

2021 Taxable Value: $3,453,200                                               

Recent Sales Price: $2,700,000  – Over-taxed by 28%

Montgomery County property investors far too often pay excess property taxes. Most market value protests are successful, typically saving the owner hundreds or thousands of dollars. Unequal appraisal is a powerful tool to reduce property taxes, but many homeowners are not aware of it and don’t use it. Property tax appeals are often won with a smile and a bit of data. 

Property owners are sometimes reluctant to protest their property taxes because the believe the appeal process is difficult.  It is not difficult and 60 to 80% of owners who appeal are successful. Appraisal districts use the cost approach to value houses.  It is generally considered the least reliable method of appraisal. 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.