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| Property Taxes - Reviewing County Appraisal District Records
Property taxes are determined using a variety of information about your land, home and other buildings on your property. For example, your county appraisal district reviews, among other things, the grade, condition, desirability and utility (CDU) of your property. Resulting county records need careful review by you, the homeowner or investor, to make certain the information is correct. But how is a homeowner supposed to know? You can start by reviewing your property information on your county appraisal district's web site. Grade is a qualitative evaluation of the construction materials and level of craftsmanship used to build your house. Most appraisal districts have about eight to 15 different grades to describe homes of varying quality. Entry-level appraisers typically make the initial estimate of grade. The appraisal district's estimate of grade for houses within a subdivision often varies for homes that are essentially identical. This can occur when two or more appraisers are evaluating the grade of properties within a subdivision. The factors for condition, desirability and utilities are highly unreliable. However, the appraisal district uses these as key factors in valuing your property. The appraisal district, in most areas, believes it actually knows the quality and condition of improvements in homes that are 20-to-80-years-old, even though they have not been in the house since it was initially built. The appraisal district's staff typically measures and visits homes while still in the construction process. This is why it is likely they were in your home when it was initially built, if the appraisal district existed at that point and time. If you can document that either the grade or condition, desirability or utilities for your home is not accurate, the appraisal district will probably correct them and revise your value. If you feel your property's assessed value is affected by any of these situations, it's your right to file a formal protest. You can protest your property value yourself, or hire a professional consultant to handle your protest for you. Either way, there's no reason to pay more property taxes than is required by law. Click here for FREE useful information to reduce your property taxes Questions? E-mail O'Connor & Associates, or call 1-877-4-TAXCUT. Please help us! We are conducting a survey to educate legislators regarding problems with the property tax appeal process. You can help by taking 2 minutes to complete this survey. You will receive a copy of the survey and FREE tips on how to appeal your property taxes. Click here to take our survey. » Hire O'Connor & Associates to reduce your property taxes. You pay NOTHING unless we save you money!  Please send me periodic tips on reducing my taxes. O'Connor & Associates -- Your Key to Real Estate Value Corporate Office: 2200 North Loop W., Suite 200 Houston, TX 77018 1-800-856-7325 Dallas * Houston * Los Angeles * Newport Beach If you would like to be removed from this list and receive no future real estate information, click here to unsubscribe. |
Property Tax Tips
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