Home address: 1128 Mason Ave 1

2021 Tax Assessment: $574,568

Recent Sales Price: $385,000 – Over-taxed by 49%

Texas property owners can avoid paying excess property taxes by taking several basic steps. Appraisal districts are flexible on market value appeals given the large number of houses they value and that are protested. The lower value stands when appealing market value and unequal appraisal.  Appeal both every year. 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 the 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. 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 owners have a duty and responsibility to appraisal property taxes annually.  It is not prudent or reasonable to rely on the appraisal district’s estimate.