In 2016, more than 150,000 individuals protested their home valuations in Travis and Williamson counties.
This year, the average property values rose by about 8 percent in Williamson County and about 6 percent in Travis County, prompting what has been another busy protest period for each county’s appraisal district, according to county appraisers.
Before protesting, Williamson County Chief Appraiser Alvin Lankford said it is important to remember that determining property appraisals is only the first step in a two-part property tax process.
First, appraisal districts assign value to each piece of property.
“It is our job to reflect what is happening in every neighborhood subdivision and county,” he said.
Then local entities assign tax rates on top of the valuation. Travis County Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler said that step is where property taxes receive the greatest impact.
“The [money] people are paying comes from tax rates that get set, and that doesn’t happen until August or September,” Crigler said.
Before that time, property owners can provide input in the process by engaging in protests.
The process begins Jan. 1 when county appraisal districts appraise the value of property. If a homeowner intends to protest his or her home’s appraisal, he or she must notify the appraisal district by May 31.
Individuals can protest both in person and online, and next year they will be able to call into protest hearings via a conference line because of a newly passed bill from the Texas Legislature.House Bill 455, by state Rep. Will Metcalf, R- Conroe, will take effect Sept. 1 and allows property owners to appear by telephone conference call and offer related evidence through an affidavit.
Lankford said it is easiest to protest property valuation online because one can compare his or her property value to peer real estate.
Crigler said these peer comparisons are likely the best pieces of evidence a homeowner can use.
“The most effective equaling arguments are going to be if you can find a property that is an exact model match to your property, is in the same condition as your property but the appraisal is different,” Crigler said.
Crigler said it is important to find a property that is as similar as possible.
“Look for other single-story properties [if you have a single story home]; look for those in the same condition,” she said. “If your home has been remodeled, make sure you are comparing yourself to other updated homes.”
Another effective argument Crigler suggested is based on recent sale price. Crigler said if one’s property recently sold, the sales price will be the best indicator of market value. If the sales price is lower than the appraised value, there is a good argument for lowering the valuation.
Between 2016 and 2017, the average Travis County home rose in value from $285,332 to $307,997. In Williamson County, the average home’s value increased from $247,848 to $268,736.
