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Started By
Message
Texas Property Tax Protest
Posted on 5/12/16 at 6:51 pm
Posted on 5/12/16 at 6:51 pm
So as most of the Texas folks on this board know, it's a time honored tradition to protest the appraised value of your home.
We just moved into a new construction and received our first appraisal The filing deadline is May 31 and I am trying to decide the best method to protest - myself or hiring a third party. There are some companies out there that do it on a contingency - which I believe is 50% of the savings.
Anyone have experience with this? Any companies you recommend?
We just moved into a new construction and received our first appraisal The filing deadline is May 31 and I am trying to decide the best method to protest - myself or hiring a third party. There are some companies out there that do it on a contingency - which I believe is 50% of the savings.
Anyone have experience with this? Any companies you recommend?
8
Posted on 5/12/16 at 6:53 pm to HurricaneDunc
O'Conner and Associates is good.
Posted on 5/12/16 at 7:24 pm to HurricaneDunc
I would do it myself the first year if you have a real estate agent that will help. Look up properties near you that sold recently and compare the value. Bring all that with you.
Each area is different, some places here they were pushovers but where I live now it was like being on the bad end of a CSI episode. After year one you know if it's worth paying.
Each area is different, some places here they were pushovers but where I live now it was like being on the bad end of a CSI episode. After year one you know if it's worth paying.
Posted on 5/12/16 at 7:51 pm to HurricaneDunc
You're referring to the tax assessment, as opposed to the appraisal. But anyway, I've always done it myself. The law in my state (VA) requires the assessment to be based on 100% of FMV. The firm that does assessments for my county is from out of state and seems to be full of ex Enron accountants. So I and my fellow citizens end up camping out at the court house with our comps in hand.
It's not difficult... just time consuming and aggravating.
It's not difficult... just time consuming and aggravating.
Posted on 5/12/16 at 7:55 pm to Jag_Warrior
quote:
It's not difficult... just time consuming and aggravating.
If they have your property valued at your purchase price, I wouldnt waste your time. I thought I had airtight case for at least 15-30k to be knocked off appraised value - next door neighbor had identical home but with a pool and was appraised at 15k less than us. I'm only mailing in my protest from now on....it got me 5k off last year with a few clicks.
Posted on 5/12/16 at 8:31 pm to HurricaneDunc
I think the Houston area counties don't realize that oil prices are down 
I'm about 30K over what Zillow says.
I'm about 30K over what Zillow says.
Posted on 5/12/16 at 8:58 pm to crazycubes
If you are in Houston, there are several who will do it for about 30% of savings. Make sure your contract is based on actual taxes so you can take advantage of the homestead exemption. I've had more than one of these third party people try to base their fee on the implied taxes before the exemption was applied. I've used 2 or 3 agencies and they've always been able to lower the appraised value. The whole thing is a complete racket.
Posted on 5/13/16 at 3:18 pm to HurricaneDunc
Jubally is the best option in the Houston area. It is a flat $75 fee instead of the ridiculous 40-60% of tax savings that the others charge. You get a free estimate of your tax savings, and if you pay you get the exact report to hand to the property tax folks in the format that they need. Jubally's website can do all of this for you in minutes.
Posted on 5/13/16 at 3:53 pm to Bayou Tiger
Everyone that uses Jubally swears by it. I think I'm going to try it out this year.
Posted on 5/13/16 at 4:07 pm to HurricaneDunc
I'm not from Texas and I've never heard of this. Is it really very common?
Posted on 5/13/16 at 4:20 pm to Porker Face
It's probably not as common in states with lower property taxes. When I lived in Louisiana my annual property tax was around $1000. Now that I live in Texas it is over $15000 per year. So naturally an entire niche industry has evolved in Texas around saving mere percentage points on these taxes.
Posted on 5/13/16 at 5:47 pm to TheChosenOne
So basically you pay them $75 for the info to protest it yourself? Interesting...
Posted on 5/13/16 at 6:45 pm to HurricaneDunc
I signed up with Texas Tax Protest for a $295 flat fee, which is refundable if they don't provide at least an equal amount in savings. I attempted to protest in person myself one year... never again.
Posted on 5/13/16 at 9:00 pm to txtiger79
quote:
So basically you pay them $75 for the info to protest it yourself? Interesting...
Yea, it's in the exact format they want and is basically irrefutable. I've never done it obviously, but this is what everyone I talk to claims.
I know a guy that does it by himself every year and is really successful. It takes him forever to put the packet together, though. To me it seems like it's worth $75 to save that time and effort and just do Jubally.
This post was edited on 5/13/16 at 9:01 pm
Posted on 5/14/16 at 8:44 am to TheChosenOne
Sounds like it's worth a shot. I need to see if I can still back out of the company I have representing me. It doesn't look like they've filed the protest yet from looking at my hcad account.
Posted on 6/20/16 at 2:48 pm to HurricaneDunc
I'll be moving to the Houston area next month and just saw this post.
I still can't believe how high my property tax is going to be as a Texas resident, but I didn't realize this protest option could actually be successful.
We're buying a new construction house in Spring, and the current assessed value listed online is about $20k higher than our sales price is.
What are the success rate chances if I protest next year?
I still can't believe how high my property tax is going to be as a Texas resident, but I didn't realize this protest option could actually be successful.
We're buying a new construction house in Spring, and the current assessed value listed online is about $20k higher than our sales price is.
What are the success rate chances if I protest next year?
Posted on 6/20/16 at 3:11 pm to LSU
Pretty good. I bought my house in July at a price below assessed value. Protested the following year and sent in my settlement statement. They lowered it to my purchase price without me needing to go to a hearing.
Posted on 6/20/16 at 3:11 pm to Bayou Tiger
quote:
Message Texas Property Tax Protest by Bayou Tiger
Jubally is the best option in the Houston area. It is a flat $75 fee instead of the ridiculous 40-60% of tax savings that the others charge. You get a free estimate of your tax savings, and if you pay you get the exact report to hand to the property tax folks in the format that they need. Jubally's website can do all of this for you in minutes.
I used Jubally and won my protest against Ft. Bend County !
Posted on 6/20/16 at 3:13 pm to txtiger79
quote:
Pretty good. I bought my house in July at a price below assessed value. Protested the following year and sent in my settlement statement. They lowered it to my purchase price without me needing to go to a hearing.
This is true. What I just protested is my 2015 appraisal . With the down oil market, 2016 (which I'll protest next year) should be even lower.
Posted on 6/21/16 at 10:26 am to sneakytiger
quote:
I attempted to protest in person myself one year... never again.
Yep, logic doesn't apply in those meetings. I will never do anything besides mail in protest.
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