Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2016 · 135 posts · 62 votes
10y
We need this too! We had an appraisal done as part of a loan refinance in March. Collin County appraised the property at 10% above this appraisal. We used their online appeal website and they rejected the appraisal! But, they did offer to come down 3% on the value...
The county is obviously playing hardball and trying to raise taxes.
Real Estate Agent/Property Management · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 827 votes
10y
Honestly I think these tax protest things are nothing more than spinning your wheels. I used O'Connor one year to reduce my taxes, and they reduced my taxes a grand total of $120. Since they charge 50% of whatever they save, that meant I only saved $60. Frankly, it's hardly worth the time to write a check and take it to the post office for that.
People who own rental properties in Texas are really screwed. If the property is owner-occupied (homesteaded), your appraised value can only go up 10% a year, regardless of the market value of the property. But if you're not living in the house as your personal residence, then you are stuck with the full appraised value of the home.
Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2009 · 718 posts · 913 votes
10y
My perception about all of these companies (and this might not be correct) is that all they do is schlep on down to your hearing with some comps and skim a little off the appraised value. I've been protesting my own stuff for years, and I can tell you that this is a pretty ineffective way to go. If you're serious about protesting, then you also want pictures, repairs estimates, and anything else you think will help. I don't believe these protest services do this (can't see how they could for the money they are making.)
Real Estate Opportunist · Tustin, CA · Member since 2012 · 23 posts · 17 votes
10y
propertytaxprotest.com would not take on my rental in Dallas because it is less than $500,000. Ended up filing a protest on my own. This site makes some good suggestions on how to approach it. It took me about 15 minutes to collect pictures and proposed 2016 tax estimates from 3 of my neighbors.
New York, NY · Member since 2013 · 20 posts · 0 votes
10y
Thank you all for your tips, especially the link from @Larry Im of dallasnews.com. While landlords are enjoying the increase of house values, easy to rent out, more headquarters to move into Dallas, wish everyone good luck in this year's property tax protest!