How to prepare for your Texas property tax protest
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- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- I did a vlog about the process (from start to finish) on protesting your property taxes to show how much time I spent and how much money I saved. Jump to the spot that helps you most:
0:37 - Filling out your property tax protest form
2:30 - Evaluating the evidence packet from the county
3:56 - Receiving the hearing appointment dates & other info
6:06 - Reviewing the MLS database for comps
7:52 - Researching Travis county to see values of similar homes
9:18 - Pulling all the evidence together
10:25 - Hearing date at the tax office
11:05 - Recap of how my hearing went
11:45 - Summary of how much money I saved
For up to date information please read my April 2018 blog with updated tips on how to be successful at your protest:
www.homesalesaustintexas.com/...
I live in Austin, Texas and protest through the Travis central appraisal district. Many people are nervous about protesting, don't know what to expect or think it takes hours and hours of time. I hope this video helps you better understand how it works. You can save hundreds of dollars in taxes by spending just a few hours of time. I have been successful 5 out of 5 times and most people get a reduction when they protest.
An Austin resident since 1978, I have been a licensed Realtor in Austin, Texas since 2003. I partnered with my mother and former real estate agent, Judy DeWitt, from 2003 - 2014 (thus the name Family Pair of my website) and we have helped hundreds of clients. I welcome you to browse my stellar client reviews on Yelp or Facebook. You can contact me at tammy@homesalesaustintexas.com or (512) 773-3214.
www.homesalesaustintexas.com/
wellsbranchr...
www.yelp.com/biz/tammy-dewitt-...
Kudos to my amazing daughter who filmed and edited this video. I could not have made it without her!
I can hear you all day about property taxes. You have great info. Thanks
Oh my goodness.
My first time to protest I’ve watched about eight videos this morning and you WIN!!!
BEST VIDEO AWARD 🥇 TROPHY 🏆
Tammy Dewittle Austin TX.
Wow seven years ago… Thanks again
Thanks for adding the keystone cop fast motion portion instead of deleting it and the happy heal click…
Can you do an updated in depth video on how to read comp sales and comp grid? Also what kind of evidence you should get?
Excellent video. Well done and very well thought out. Great Job and thank you!
Good information. Thanks for sharing
Thank you SO much for your videos! I’m a new homeowner in Kyle and of course our taxes are going up. Your advice is so helpful and I’m looking forward to a successful protest!
How’d it go?
Thanks for showing us the ropes, Tammy. I'm at it again this year with my appraisal so I find your videos very informative. Keep up the good work!
oeight74 thank you & best of luck at your protest!
Thanks for all the tips on how to protest my property taxes. Here in Bexar County, as in other counties across Texas, property taxes have been on the rise at a pretty fast pace. Following your tips, using comps for my neighborhood, and taking interior pictures to support my case I was able to knock off $14,000 off of my assessed value. Next year I will use the same strategy to help reign in the ever increasing property taxes. The person I presented my case to in the informal hearing was helpful and very reasonable. Thx again. =)
Yay! I'm so happy for you. Thanks for coming back to write a comment.
Tammy, thank you. The help and tips you offer in your videos are invaluable. Thumbs up.
I got the evidence packet, but how do I know if they are basing the value off the comp sales or comp equity?
great advice! Thank you!!
Thank you very much for sharing your experience.
Love your videos very informative. Thank you 🙏
Thanks for doing this - awesome!
Do they still do in person protests? I thought they were overwhelmed. I realize this video was from a loooong time ago. Thanks
I’m collecting all the information you show us in the video, thank you Tammy i have my appointment for my informal hearing on June 29th 2020 wish me luck.
Do you have an update tax protest form for Texas??
Thank you so much for existing! You are making the world a better place for us in these scenarios. This year I"m going to try and correct my home value and tax bill. It's too high. I'd also like to get the Home Stead and Senior Citizen break. I didn't see those options on the form they sent me, or the website. Is it easier to get Home Stead and Senior status with these property taxes. (I'm new to Texas this year. Invested here before the rest of the country figures it out and swarm here.)
You go girl! 💃🏽💃🏽I am an agent Miami. I must get this process down packed so that I can offer it to my clients. I am working on a property that appraised for $335k but the ASV is $383k here in Broward County. It’s been a zoo here since the market crashed.
Great work Tammy. It is August 2020 and am wondering if you are doing anymore work like this. Sam Pittsburgh/WV
How do I get comps? I don’t have a realtor I know ? Please help
Protested my property taxes on numerous occasions because they go up every year. I have a hearing coming up they always bring up what homes are selling for in my neighborhood when I show them what I paid for my home doesn't matter I told them no improvements have been made. I bought my home new never been on real estate market to see what it would sell for I live in Texas there's housing shortage in my city it's a seller's market with over pricing and people moving to Texas because there unhappy with the previous state they lived in. Plus the pandemic probably has something to do with it. What would you recommend in order for me to have a winning chance.
Who is claiming, with firsthand testimony, that taxes are owed?
Do you have a video on how to read comp sales grid and how to use it to protest property?
I’m sorry I may have missed it .. but where do you get the form
Too late for me. I already sent mine. I only said my house is overvalued. Last time I protested did the same thing and they dropped it 15%. I'll use your video next time.
James Threadgill good luck!!
Tammy, Do you attach supporting documents to you original protest as shown in beginning of your video or only take them to the informal meeting?
Tammy,
Thanks for the helpful tips. I used the Harris County website and pulled info for similar homes in size along with photographed evidence of needed repairs. Unfortunately, the gentleman only lowered the value by $1500 because of a spa that is no longer present at the home. When I referenced the similar sized homes in the area being appraised much lower than mine, he pulled a computer generated comparison that had 9 homes that sold around the same time as mine and I had no idea how to challenge that. Do you have any advice, going forward, to handle that scenario?
Thanks
Arthur Freeman I tell people come armed with at least 3 arguments as you never know which might stick. For example:
1. Sales comps - find lower priced sold homes
2. Equity approach - Look up values of similar homes that didn't sell & point out lower valued homes
3. Condition - evaluate the condition of your home vs other comps. Bring up any ways your home is inferior
4. External factors - near busy street, back to utility tower or commercial, sloped lot/drainage issues, etc
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the feed back. I'll gather the evidence and return better equipped next year.
Tammy, Few questions. 1- Do you show them that you already did the repairs with the amount you paid or just show that need to be done? 2- you said in another video that E-protest is the INFORMAL hearing, so should i mail in the form the get an INFORMAL? I am in Rockwall County, and they told me that the informal ended yesterday 5/09/19, however the deadline to protest by Efile or mail in is 5/15/19. They said if i do Efile is to get a date for the FORMAL. But the initial form that they sent does not state that. I wonder if they are just trying to intimidate me because i would assume it should be the same proceeding regardless in Texas regardless of the county. I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
Hi, I would like to know if I can appeal my property tax even if I filed a homestead exemption.
Berenice Badillo yes definitely! All properties (whether they have any exemptions or not) can be protested.
Thanks this is really helpful. But how do I get MLS access ?
Only a licensed real estate agent has access. If you are in the greater Austin area I can help you.
Also I recommend you watch this video to be sure you get the right comp info in case you're not in Austin area
ua-cam.com/video/ay2BeKXoEM4/v-deo.html
Tammy, my County (polk county, iowa) Did NOT mail me the comp sales grid & the informal hearing was only a phone call.
I brought it up the grid in hearing today, they gave me a poorly printed copy of two homes. I included a list of 9 homes for them to review. Any advice??
jim Smith Hi Jim, my advice is only applicable in Texas particularly the greater Austin area. Each state handles property taxes a little differently so I'm sorry I can't give advice on how it works in Iowa. I suggest contacting a local Realtor near you. Good luck!
hi tammy
this is my first time going to a hearing and my question is how can i know if they are using comp sale or equity ? they send information on both.
They generally use the sold prices "sales comp grid" to determine your value. The equity info is there since you can prepare an argument based on solds and/or equity.
Thank you Tammy for all the tips.I wish if you can help me protest my property tax.
i live behind a store with my four children and wife. my realstate tax now $22,500.00 a year.my property is attached to my neibor.they pay a bout $3000.00 to $4000.00. my property is little bigger sqfootage. the DOfinance have me as class k4 and building class 4 instead of class 1. i have visited the DO finance numerous time. they tell me go to NYc.gov/finance. i need someone to change my class or reduce my realstate tax. thank you
Adam Nasher Hi Adam, so you live in NY? I only have expertise in the process here in Texas and am not familiar with how it's done in other states. Wish I could help you though!!
Hi Tammy, I go to tad.org, then type in the street name in the search bar, then get a long list of the houses on my street, but since the appraisal district online service dose not offer filters like sizes, pool, garage... so I need to click on every house (whose prices are below mine) to check whether they are similar to my house, is this the way to search neighborhood values? there are so many to click.
jingjingandsun Wang would you like to email me at tammy@familypair.com & I'll be happy to help. It's hard to explain in a comment.
I am confused on who you know which method they used to appraise your property. You mention that we should "figure that out" but not how. The line "Appr Val. Method" for me says "Cost" which does not indicate Sales or Equity and I don't see anything in what Travis county sent that helps. Can you clarify that? Both our Comps and Equity are close to our appraised value. Thanks for the videos it gives us hope in a hopeless bureaucratic mess!
Matthew McDermott they use 2 different methods. One are the sales from last year and the other are the similar homes to yours that didn’t sell. Normally on the comp reports you see “sales comp grid” or “equity comp grid” in the header so you know which is which. Hope this answers your question.
They sent us both reports.
for evidence is it better to take inside house photos or outside
Robert Garcia you take pics of whatever items are in serious disrepair so could be either.
How to get the evidence packet from county!
Jin He all you do is request it on your protest form. This blog explains that:
www.homesalesaustintexas.com/how-to-fill-out-the-texas-property-tax-protest-form/
how did you find the actual percentage on sold properties
Robert Garcia actual percentage of what? I’m not sure I understand your question. Please let me know.
What if someone doesn’t have access to the mls data?
I'm using zillow and creating an excel file to print. I hope that works. I may include a print out of the houses just to confirm legitimacy.
How can I get comps if I don't have access to mls?
Sheen L you'll need to have a Realtor run them for you. If you are in greater Austin area I can help you, just email me at Tammy@HomeSalesAustinTexas.com
Tammy DeWitt Le, Austin Real Estate Specialist I'm I. San Antonio; I was able to knock off 3k from the accessed value. First time protesting, thanks for your videos. My problem is my neighborhood is only 90 houses and only 2-5 houses are close to my sq footage.
how did you find the sold were at 10 percent since you now how to pull up the comps what info would you need from me to do
What i meant is i have to explain and explain what i am doing when i want comps from an real estate agent they look at me dumbfounded and it frustrates me. Since you know how to do the comps can you help me
Robert Garcia yes not all agents understand the process. I can only pull comps if you live in Central TX/Austin area.
Hello I live here in Maryland and I just got a big increase in my monthly mortgage. Once I call the mortgage company they said it was due to your taxes going up $1,000. What if anything can be done to lower my monthly cost for a mostly run down piece of property
MORNING GARDENER'S SHOW. So if you have an escrow acct then they pay your property taxes each year and take it out of your monthly payment. When taxes increase they will increase the monthly payment.
The mortgage co has nothing to do with property taxes so you’d need to try and protest your appraised value with your local county appraisal district. Sorry but I’m not sure how it works in Maryland since I’m based in Austin, TX. If you know a local Realtor they could help. Good luck!
Cute