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| Property Taxes: Ensure that your home is appraised fairly |
Most homeowners are willing to pay their share to invest in our local schools and maintain our streets and other important infrastructure. However, taxpayers want to ensure that they are being assessed fairly.
Representative Villarreal offers an annual workshop for citizens each spring on how to navigate the system and effectively dispute property appraisals. Below is helpful information for individuals who are disputing their appraisal. To learn about future workshops
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Getting started
You know your property better than anyone. You should review your appraisal carefully when it arrives in May to ensure that the appraisal district has accurately assessed the value of your home.
You can begin by talking with a realtor and researching the market in your area. You can also research comparisons to your property and neighboring properties.
If you decide to dispute your value, you will have an opportunity to meet with an appraiser to review your case before the formal hearing. Arrive prepared for this meeting, and you may be able to come to an agreement on the value before the formal hearing.
There are two main ways to dispute your case:
1) Market Value - the price at which a property would transfer for cash or its equivalent under prevailing market conditions.
2) Equal and Uniform - all property must be taxed equally and uniformly.
Steps to prepare for your informal and formal hearings with the appraisal district:
1) Verify that the information the Appraisal District has for your property is correct:
- Size
- Year Built
- Swimming Pool? Garage? Make sure aerial images being used are accurate, i.e., a gravel driveway is not mistaken for a carport.
- Condition of home.
- List all needed repairs.
- Get estimates for all needed repair work.
- Pictures are worth 1,000 words. Take pictures of the condition of the property.
- External influences can affect value (For example, is your home adjacent to a business or home that makes it a less desirable location?).
2) Research the market value of your property:
Texas law does not require the disclosure of the sales price of properties, so you’ll need to do a little work to get the information you need.
o Your local realtor may be able to help - Realty websites are a good source of information:
o Current home listings can give you an idea about value.
o Keep copies of any comparable listings.
o This will give you a date stamp - the closer to January 1st the better.
o Having an idea about the market value of your house gets you a step ahead!
3) Determine whether the appraisal of your property meets the “Equal and Uniform” standard:
o Keep a narrow age of property range.
o Keep a narrow property size range.
o Look at properties with similar features.
o Look at the median level of appraised value per square foot.
Source: Popp, Gray& Hutcheson, LLP- The Property Tax Firm of Texas
Additional resources for homeowners:
"Protesting Residential Appraisals", a powerpoint presentation by Popp, Gray, and Hutcheson, "The Property Tax Law Firm of Texas".
(Note: The presentation may take a moment to load).
A helpful Q & A from the Texas Comptroller.
A calendar provided by the Bexar County Appraisal District.
A KSAT 12 report, "Family Offers Tips to Fight Home Appraisal",
Realty Websites: