Appraisal districts use a process called mass appraisal to value hundreds of thousands of houses. In Harris County, they value about 1.2 million houses each year, using a very limited staff
Appraisal districts use a process called mass appraisal to value hundreds of thousands of houses. In Harris County, they value about 1.2 million houses each year, using a very limited staff. Most of the property inspections mandated by state low (every three years) are now done using aerial photography! Seriously, how much can you tell about the condition of a house viewing an aerial photograph?
In many cases, the computer-generated estimate of market value is within 10% of the true value. However, in about half the cases the value set by the appraisal district is either 10% high or low, because of defects in the mass appraisal process.
We believe about 30,000 homes in Harris County over-taxed by 50% or more in 2014. And about 5,000 homes in Harris County over-taxed by 100% or more. Between 200,000 and 300,000 Harris County taxes are over-taxed by at least 10%.
While this may seem incredible, it is due to the errors in appraisal district property records, inaccurate data regarding cost, depreciation and comparable sales. Further, most property owners have limited knowledge about the appeal process and believe myths about appealing property taxes. They do not understand the HCAD jargon of grade, CDU, level of remodel, land lines, etc. Compounding the problem is a reluctance to revise HCAD records. If an HCAD appraiser agrees a property is over-taxed, he will change the value. However, to correct fields of data such as grade, condition or land value is highly unusual. So the same problems occur from year to year, frustrating home owners and causing HCAD a consistently high appeal value. If Harris County Appraisal District would make updating the records part of the appraisal process, it would reduce the number of annual protests.
Since HCAD targets 100% of market value for their homes, half of all houses are over-taxed and half are under-taxed. The result is there are at least 200,000 houses in Harris County over-taxed by at least 10%. Following is a list of some of the most egregious examples of homes over-valued Zip Code 77018. If you recognize the address, please call the owner and make sure they protest.
Property Zip Code
Property Address
Assessment Ratio
2014 Market Value
Gross Sale Price
Owner Name
77018
419 W 31st St
190%
$787,550
$415,000
Tyler-Martinez Mary P &
77018
1730 Ansbury Dr
132%
$191,768
$145,000
Nemec Leonard R
77018
991 Chamboard Ln
129%
$445,049
$345,250
Donnie G Tv LLC Dba Formula
77018
217 W 44th St
128%
$56,478
$44,000
Cook Marlene Tone % Lavaugh L Cook Estate Of
77018
818 W 43rd St
127%
$317,756
$250,000
Barrow John E & Lisa K
77018
411 Azaleadell Dr
124%
$442,716
$357,000
Serrano Libby R
77018
306 E 38th St
123%
$40,000
$32,500
Elmers David L
77018
1567 Hewitt Dr
121%
$284,462
$235,000
Frodine Lori
77018
1317 Richelieu Ln
120%
$335,047
$280,000
Gebauer Chase
77018
1634 Du Barry Ln
119%
$274,310
$230,000
Torres Jose A & Maria M
77018
947 W 43rd St
119%
$238,498
$200,000
Harkor Homes LLC
77018
1430 Althea Dr
119%
$313,518
$263,250
Code Leslie A
77018
1922 Brimberry St
119%
$380,802
$320,000
Saterfiel Coree
77018
307 E 33rd St
119%
$127,105
$107,000
Smith Toni
77018
733 W 39th St
119%
$379,704
$320,000
Sutherland John A & Courtney S
77018
2307 Poinciana Dr
118%
$709,442
$600,000
Foster Carrie E
77018
1723 Nina Lee Ln
118%
$312,078
$265,000
Perry Homes LLC
77018
922 Fisher St # C
117%
$554,236
$473,000
Shockley David P
77018
4602 Alba Rd
117%
$385,606
$330,000
Twenty Three Ten Development LLC Chalmers John E Estate Of
77018
1514 Du Barry Ln
116%
$343,110
$294,900
Wathen Stacy
77018
1910 Ebony Ln
116%
$278,617
$240,000
Moffitt Mary Ann
77018
831 Lamonte Ln
115%
$736,630
$639,000
Mcguire Holland B
77018
5003 Shady Nook Ct
115%
$459,673
$400,000
Current Owner
77018
2106 Du Barry Ln
114%
$250,686
$220,000
Chamberlain LLC
77018
987 Chamboard Ln
113%
$324,461
$287,000
Jernigan Brett & Kelly
77018
1802 Candlelight Place Dr
113%
$695,906
$615,625
Major Jason L Jr
77018
1814 Saxon Dr
112%
$297,536
$265,000
Perry Homes LLC
77018
938 W 43rd St
112%
$284,908
$255,000
Beeson Lawrence
77018
1903 Brimberry St
112%
$248,879
$223,000
De Atai Limited Company
77018
236 W 30th St
111%
$456,751
$410,000
Daily Paula E
77018
1566 Sue Barnett Dr
111%
$397,997
$360,000
Ortega Megan E & Jesus A
77018
2207 Lamonte Ln
110%
$328,237
$299,000
Howell-Smith Barbra
77018
922 W 42nd St
110%
$279,917
$255,000
Knutson Julie
77018
1234 Du Barry Ln
110%
$319,899
$292,000
Bella Torre Homes LLC
77018
1340 Sue Barnett Dr
110%
$1,064,347
$972,000
Wan Jing
Since the property taxes are paid by the mortgage company for most home owners, the pain point for the home owner is about one year too late. When they receive the notice their monthly payment is increasing by $100 or $200 or more per month, the appeal deadline has likely passed. The property tax appeal deadline in Texas is May 31, or the following workday if May 31 is on a weekend.
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Appraisal districts use a process called mass appraisal to value hundreds of thousands of houses. In Harris County, they value about 1.2 million houses each year, using a very limited staff.
