HCAD just appraised my home 5k more than what I paid for it. (Houston: real estate, attorney) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

usc619 · 03-20-2009, 08:17 PM

That's freaking bull $hit, I know my home isn't worth 5K more than it was in '07. Last year they tried to get me for (40k plus) more than what I paid, now this

. Do I have to fight with these morons every year

This crap is getting old, I may have to hire an attorney and try to take them below what I paid.

Nearly half of Harris County homes decline in value | TOP STORIES | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas (http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou090320_mh_property-values.53bd3f0a.html - broken link)

Last year I got my home re-appraised for what the purchase price was, after they tried to rob me.

usc619 · 03-20-2009, 08:40 PM

blogHOUSTON - Diligent HCAD civil servants find tax break for Mayor

"Houston accountant Tim Hebert is pissed about his property taxes. So he decided to do a little research at the Harris County Appraisal District Web site.

And there he learned that in 2007, while his taxes were going up, Mayor Bill White's Memorial-area home had gotten a huge tax break, with the assessment falling from about $2.8 million to about $1.8 million.

White's neighbors hadn't gotten the same break, just the mayor.

HCAD told Hebert the change came because new maps placed White's home in a floodplain, but that didn't make much sense — only his house was in the new floodplain? Hebert showed that other houses should have been affected by the new map as well.

"I don't have any personal beef with the Mayor," Hebert says, "but I hate the fact that the rest of us are getting slammed with ever-higher property taxes while His Honor gets a reduction of damn near $1,000,000."

Jason Cunningham, HCAD's residential property director, says, essentially, mistakes were made. Both in telling Hebert the reduction was because of a floodplain map, and in assessing White's house so high in the first place.

White, he says, has simply been the victim of "extreme overvaluing for years."

"These are very difficult areas to appraise," he says. "What we are really doing is correcting an error. It was just wrong."

Cunningham says an appraiser noted the value of White's home was too high during an overall look at the neighborhood. The homes of White's neighbors, he says, were more accurate and didn't need to be changed significantly."

usc619 · 03-20-2009, 09:01 PM

If anyone has had any experience with Commercial Real Estate Tax Reduction and Cost Segregation - O'Connor and Associates Tax Planning please feel free to post or PM me your opinion of this firm.

Poltracker · 03-20-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usc619

If anyone has had any experience with Commercial Real Estate Tax Reduction and Cost Segregation - O'Connor and Associates Tax Planning please feel free to post or PM me your opinion of this firm.

You are better off doing it yourself. I did much better on my own than with them...and it cost less.

LostInHouston · 03-21-2009, 12:08 AM

What's the process like for fighting this? Just checked and they appraised my house for $13k more than what I paid for it 8 months ago.

Poltracker · 03-21-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

What's the process like for fighting this? Just checked and they appraised my house for $13k more than what I paid for it 8 months ago.

Lost, you have a good case for a fight. Go to the HCAD website, they give you instructions on how to protest (it really is easy). Start with filing the E-protest on line.

predatorprey · 03-21-2009, 08:10 AM

I'd file a e-protest and state your case, if they don't decrease it then you can reject and make an appointment to show up in person.

westres1 · 03-21-2009, 08:55 AM

Do not pay anyone to protest for you. It is easy to do and you can do it yourself. If you need comps call a friendly realtor. Dont let them charge you for it just remember them the next time you buy or sale.

oceangaia · 03-21-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westres1

Do not pay anyone to protest for you. It is easy to do and you can do it yourself.

Depends. Sure you can do it yourself but what is your cost of taking a day or half-day off from work? For the initial interview and maybe again for the review board? One person may have the time and patience, another may not.

And hiring a rep is a really good deal if you would otherwise not do it at all.

westres1 · 03-21-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiverTodd62

Depends. Sure you can do it yourself but what is your cost of taking a day or half-day off from work? For the initial interview and maybe again for the review board? One person may have the time and patience, another may not.

And hiring a rep is a really good deal if you would otherwise not do it at all.

you can do it online now...and the firms like o'conner take 1/2 of what you save. I think they are bloodsuckers and I throw O'conner letters away everytime I get one.