Home address: 1638 Julia Park Dr

2021 Taxable Value: $329,420

Recent Sales Price: $174,900 – Over-taxed by 88%

Half or more of Texas home owners are paying more than their fair share of property taxes. Either comparable sales or condition issues at your home are useful for a market value appeal of property taxes. Property owners can appeal both market value and unequal appraisal. The Texas Comptroller reports 80% of 2019 property tax appeals by home owners were successful.

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.