Home address: 5602 Capeview Cove Ln

2021 Taxable Value: $1,060,870

Recent Sales Price: $740,000 – Over-taxed by 43%

Fort bend County home owners are often unaware of the factors that cause them to pay extra taxes. Market value property tax appeals save homeowners an average of $500, according to Texas Comptroller Glen Hager, for 2019. Unequal appraisal is a powerful tool to reduce property taxes, but many homeowners are not aware of it and don’t use it. The Texas Comptroller reports 80% of 2019 property tax appeals by home owners were successful.

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. Appraisal districts use mass appraisal to value property, basically a math model. Overall results are OK. However, many homes are too high or low. Most tax protests are settled at the informal level so appraisers can return to measuring and valuing new construction. Appraisal property taxes, yard work and HVAC check-ups are just a few of the responsibilities for homeowners.