Home address: 815 Wilkes St

2021 Taxable Value: $263,159

Recent Sales Price: $133,000 – Over-taxed by 98%

Half or more of Texas home owners are paying more than their fair share of property taxes. Appraisal districts are flexible on market value appeals given the large number of houses they value and that are protested. Unequal appraisal appeals compare the level of assessment of your house to comparable houses, typically on a per square foot basis. The Texas Comptroller reports 80% of 2019 property tax appeals by home owners were successful.

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. It is difficult for appraisal districts to accurately value homes since they rarely or never see the houses. One reason appraisal districts are motivated to settle protests is to maintain goodwill with the community. Not appealing your property taxes annually is the equivalent of volunteering to pay extra property taxes.