Anyone have any pro tips on how to protest their values? My home jumped nearly $30k from 2014 to 2015.
i thought increased home values is a good thing. i suppose only if you're about to sell. would suck to have to pay the increased property tax.
Interested in this as well. Mine increased the max 10%, so even if I get them to decrease the Market Value, I'm wondering if that will get them to decrease the Appraised Value (which has the 10% cap).
Seems like everyone I talk to got the 10% max increase. My rental property went up by 28K! I don't escrow, so I better kick up the savings quick! Definitely protesting this year.... What's going on, Lieutenant Dan? I thought you were going to save us all from high property taxes?
also got around a 10% increase. I didn't protest last year but two years in a row of increases then it is worth a shot. It will be hard to justify though since lessor houses in the neighborhood are going for more. Has anyone ever used one of those companies that negotiates on your behalf?
I have tried to tell you guys over the last couple of years about this den of thieves known as HCAD. It is sheer corruption that they are both the ones who set your appraisal value AND are the ones who get to do the judging when you protest their outrageously-high appraisals. It is pure robbery, and no one in any position of power or authority does anything about it.
Yes, I have used one of those companies for two straight years, with zero results. Let me put it this way: HCAD has clearly incorrect information on my home's appraisal - they have it listed at over 1,00 square feet larger than it actually is - and yet, even with this slam-dunk information, even the professional appraisal-protester legal companies get no results. HCAD has decided they are going to shake down the population of the entire county, and they don't give a flying you-know-what about accuracy or fairness or due process. So.. good luck.
Hmm... mine went up over 10% + repairs. WTF? In College Station I just walk into a building with a bunch of old bozos, show them some pics and get my **** reduced. Annise wants me to ride a fixed gear bicycle to City Hall and eat at a food truck for lunch or something?
The appraisal should include a link that gives you the comparables they use to up your value. Drive by and take pics of them and then take pics of your place. You can google and find what the comps sold for as well. State your case for why the ones with a higher value have things your house doesn't have, any why your house is more in-line with lower value properties. Use the pictures and descriptions from when those houses were on the market (ie if a home sold and it's description said "granite counters" and you don't have that, etc). When you go in the first time you will be assigned someone, and you may get someone cool who will just cut you a break. That has happened to me around half the time I went in to protest. If not, then you go before the board and take them all of that info.
From the HCAD Website: So, if yours is over 10% - protesting should be simple. I'm guessing they just wanted to see how many people wouldn't notice. Also, you can now protest online (https://owners.hcad.org)... so no need to go in anymore.
I protested mine last year. It was an easy win though, it was a new house and they over-estimated the size of my house by like 300 sq feet. It was a really easy process for me. Took half a day off. Before the official protest, you meet with something there at HCAD and bring supporting evidence. If you cannot agree there then it is a more formal "hearing". Since mine was pretty open and shut case, everything was resolved during the first meeting. Very informal. Dude was really cool too. Took about 30-45 minutes after he saw me and then i headed out. no homestead exemption? if you max it at 10% increase and you still got it raised $30k. You're house would then be over $300. cleverly disguised "my house is better than yours" thread. On a serious note. I will be checking mine.
Homeowners should get the option to keep their house or forfeit it to the city for 7.5% under their appraised value.
