Attention Harris County residents that were flooded due to Harvey:
Harris County just sent out a press release concerning your 2019 property taxes.
In THIS article from the Houston Chronicle, Harris County states that homeowners that were flooded in Harvey could see their appraisal value notices 21% higher than they saw pre-flooding.
Yes, you read that right. Homeowners that could still be in recovery and may or may not be living in their properties, will now have to contend with a property tax bill that is potentially 21% more than what they were paying before.
Luckily, you still have time to protest this insane increase. Homeowners have 30 days past the notice send date to get the protest in. Make sure that if you are one of the homeowners affected by this increase, PROTEST this years value notice.
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Dear Mr. O’Connor: Thanks for your blog on this subject. Here is what I sent to the Governor and a few friends in our neighborhood.
Subject: HCAD using wrong formula to estimate Market Value
Dear LAS Neighbors:
Both O’Connor and Bettencourt appraisal experts say that HCAD has been using a bad formula to set the “2019 Market Value” for flooded properties. See
· poconnor.com/blog/HCAD-over-taxing-flooded-properties
· btanow.com/About-BTA/Taxmans-Tips
As O’Connor points out, our laws supposedly require that HCAD appraise Market Value to be a best estimate of the value (price to a buyer) as of January 1st of the tax years.
Instead, our HCAD has been using, for flooded areas, the formula:
= minus .
This formula ignores the depression of market value caused by the
* Increased perception and recognition of the flooding hazard to the area.
* Presence of empty, unkempt, not fully repaired, and abandoned houses in the area.
* Strains on our homeowners association’s budgets.
If you don’t like this situation, O’Connor recommends sharing your opinion with Governor Abbott via the easy form that you can find here: gov.texas.gov/apps/contact/opinion.aspx.
Yours truly, John Herbster, Herb.Sci2@gmail(dot)com, (h)281-531-4423, (c)432-386-0726
I am attaching a spreadsheet with the HCAD Market Value for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 for all 147 of the LAS properties. [O’Connor, If you want it, it is 4 pages of Excel spreadsheet that I would be happy to attach to an email.]
More References:
· har.com/pricetrends/lake-at-stonehenge-realestate/3073 – Prices based on MLS Sold Data.
· search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211US679D20170305&p=appraising+market+value+of+flooded+house
· google.com/search?q=appraising+market+value+of+flooded+house
Do we still have a government of laws, or is it whatever the government can get away with?
When estimated/calculated taxable value increment of the property rose only by 4.9% median and 3.3% average for fiscal year 2018-19, how can HCAD’s annual increment would be 10%? I don’t understand the math and your explanation will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.