Home address: 615 Cypress Ave

2021 Taxable Value: $349,750

Recent Sales Price: $241,000 – Over-taxed by 45%

Texas property owners can avoid paying excess property taxes by taking several basic steps. Most market value protests are successful, typically saving the owner hundreds or thousands of dollars. The lower value stands when appealing market value and unequal appraisal. Appeal both every year. Property tax appeals are often won with a smile and a bit of data.

Some homeowners do not appeal property taxes because they are not aware of this right. You can and should protest both market value and unequal appraisal annually. 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. 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.