Home address: 6039 Blue Mist Ln

2021 Taxable Value: $309,320

Recent Sales Price: $200,000 – Over-taxed by 55%

Property tax assessments not carefully reviewed lead to paying more than your share of property taxes. A market value appeal is based on the assessor’s value exceeding the market value of your home. An unequal appraisal appeal is easy to prepare.  Just find neighborhood homes with a lower level of assessment (per square foot).  Summarize the data in a table. Appraisal districts are generally very receptive to settling tax appeals at the informal hearing.

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. Incorrect property data such as grade, effective year built, condition, etc lead to substantial errors in appraisal district values for houses. Appraisal districts are willing to settle property tax appeals because they realize their values are not precise. 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.