Home address: 1305 Marla Dr

 2021 Taxable Value: $129,944

 Recent Sales Price: $68,000   – Over-taxed by 91%

Hidalgo County home owners are often unaware of the factors that cause them to pay extra taxes. Appraisal districts are flexible on market value appeals given the large number of houses they value and that are protested. The lower value stands when appealing market value and unequal appraisal.  Appeal both every year. Winning a property tax protest is easy.  Getting property owners to appeal is hard.  Only 10% of Texan home owners appeal their property taxes.

Owners are sometimes reluctant to protest property taxes due to a concern their value might be raised.  This can’t and does not happen.  Since 2019, neither the appraisal district or the appraisal review board can increase a property tax assessment during a protest. One reason it is difficult for appraisal districts to correctly value homes is they are not homogenous.  Some have been remodeled and some haven’t. One reason appraisal districts are motivated to settle protests is to maintain goodwill with the community. Protesting your property taxes annually is analogous to regularly changing the oil in your car.  Preventative maintenance avoids serious problems.