Home address: 9144 Blackstone Dr

2021 Taxable Value: $299,343

Recent Sales Price: $237,000 – Over-taxed by 26%

Property tax assessments not carefully reviewed lead to paying more than your share of property taxes. Market value property tax appeals save homeowners an average of $500, according to Texas Comptroller Glen Hager, for 2019. 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. It is difficult to persuade property owners to protest their property taxes.  But 60 to 80% of those who do are successful. 

Some property owners do not appeal due to a concern the appraisal district will want to inspect their house.  However, the appraisal district is MUCH too busy during the appeal season to even think about asking to inspect a property.  Assessors do not visit houses because of appeals. Appraisal districts use the cost approach to value houses.  It is generally considered the least reliable method of appraisal. Most tax protests are settled at the informal level so appraisers can return to measuring and valuing new construction. Protesting your property taxes annually is analogous to regularly changing the oil in your car.  Preventative maintenance avoids serious problems.