Home address: 13327 Forest Knoll St

2021 Taxable Value: $178,230

Recent Sales Price: $90,750 – Over-taxed by 96%

Appraisal district errors in setting assessed values cause Harris County owners to pay extra taxes. Appraisal districts are flexible on market value appeals given the large number of houses they value and that are protested. Unequal appraisal appeals are valid when the assessment is below market value. Property tax appeals are often won with a smile and a bit of data.

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. 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. Appraisal districts are willing to settle property tax appeals because they realize their values are not precise. Not appealing your property taxes annually is the equivalent of volunteering to pay extra property taxes.