Home address: 1505 Pine Grove Ln

2021 Taxable Value: $282,720

Recent Sales Price: $220,000 – Over-taxed by 29%

While most Texas home owners pay extra property taxes, there are several simple steps you can take to limit your tax bill. A market value appeal is based on the assessor’s value exceeding the market value of your home. Check the unequal appraisal box on the protest form, or your unequal appraisal appeal will be ignored. 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. Mass appraisal models make it impossible for appraisal districts to accurately value most houses. 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. Protesting your property taxes annually is analogous to regularly changing the oil in your car. Preventative maintenance avoids serious problems.