The average home value increase in Harris County was a staggering 21 percent. The average apartment value rose 24 percent.
or arrange for a tax consultant to protest on their behalf. It is free to protest taxes, and consultants are usually paid a cut of any money they save their clients.
When he encounters a homeowner who should have an exemption, he helps them file for it. Homestead exemptions can be filed for the current year and retroactively for the year before, which can lead to getting some tax money back.Real estate experts warn homeowners not to throw away the letter they receive from HCAD in the coming weeks. The letters contain not only the new appraised value, but also directions on how to file a protest if a property owner believes the new value is inaccurate.
Many people are also unaware of homestead and senior exemptions, which limit tax increases, Compton said. A homestead exemption is free to file and limits appraised value increases to 10 percent a year.A shortage of homes for sale — the culmination of a perfect storm of world events and demographic change — has caused home prices to soar.