Home address: 1622 S Marsalis Ave

2021 Tax Assessment: $162,390

Recent Sales Price: $102,500 – Over-taxed by 58%

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. Unequal appraisal appeals compare the level of assessment of your house to comparable houses, typically on a per square foot basis. Woody Allen said “80% of success is showing up”.  The same is true of property taxes.  If you file an appeal and attend the hearing, your chance of reducing your property taxes is excellent.

Property owners are sometimes reluctant to protest their property taxes because they believe the appeal process is difficult.  It is not difficult and 60 to 80% of owners who appeal are successful. One reason it is difficult for appraisal districts to correctly value homes is they are not homogenous.  Some have been remodeled and some haven’t. Appraisal districts are receptive to settling property tax protests for houses at the informal level because it has only a nominal impact on the total tax base. Not appealing your property taxes annually is the equivalent of volunteering to pay extra property taxes.