Home address: 184 Moonlight Bay Dr

 2021 Taxable Value: $424,290

 Recent Sales Price: $202,000   – Over-taxed by 110%

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. Unequal appraisal appeals are valid when the assessment is below market value. Woody Allen said “80% of success is showing up”.  The same is true of property taxes.  If you file an appeal and attend the hearing, your chance of reducing your property taxes is excellent.

Many owners do not protest because they do not understand the process.  Most would appeal if they know how easy it is the high chance of success. Mass appraisal models make it impossible for appraisal districts to accurately value most houses. Appraisal districts settle appeals at the informal level  to avoid the time consuming and expensive appraisal review board hearings. Property taxes are the largest tax most Texans face.  But it is a stealth tax hidden in the mortgage payment, disguising the size of property taxes paid.