The new appraisal notices now are different in that now they don't actually give a real dollar amount that they propose billing you for. They give you columns of data, but no prices to contest. You won't see an actual price until the bill goes out in the fall + by them, protest time is past. Let's face it, they can blow smoke with all the figures + percentages they want, but the bottom line is HOW MUCH ARE WE BEING CHARGED? Oh, + a new item has just raised its ugly head in our local school district that will require more taxes + that is that all these newcomers now want an Olympic size pool for a new swimming team at the high school. It will only cost several million more, but "let's just pass another bond package"! As I have said before, those of us in the over 65 bracket should be exempt from all these insane additions of wasting money.

Well, this doesn't concern property taxes, YET, but I'm sure it will eventually. Much to my dismay, I noticed yesterday that the 200 acres behind me in the valley just went on the market. The asking price is 12 million dollars. I know that sounds like a lot of money, but the way things are growing out this way, I'm sure it's just a matter of time. I can only hope that someone in the music business or a movie star will buy it, wanting a "little" place in the country. I couldn't care less who owns it, as long as it stays undeveloped, but that's not my call. There is a nice big house on it that a retired veterinarian built, but that's the only house on the property. My only concern is the development of a sub-div or something along those lines. I'm on top of the hill + really enjoy my view, but we shall see what happens. Heaven knows I can't afford to buy it, so I really have no say in the matter, but I will miss the view. I shouldn't be concerned as nothing has happened yet, but the way people are moving into the area, + sub-divs going in everywhere, it's just a matter of time.

I'm betting it will go subdivided if your area is as you've mentioned, popular for residential life.

Probably so, I know that I'm constantly getting letters + calls about wanting to buy my land + for the vacant 5 acres next to me that I bought over 20 years ago, I'm being offered $350K. So if they're offering that, it's bound to be worth more, even though I have no intention to sell. I know that it's a bit hypocritical to contest anyone else getting theirs since I've already got mine, but there you are. That doesn't mean that I have to like the fact of someone putting in a sub-div in basically my backyard. No point in getting stressed out over something I can't do anything about, though; just need to rearrange my thinking, I suppose.

Get used to more noise, higher taxes, more people and people upset when you want to target practice, etc. You will find that your rights get more diminished with time.

How well I know; just another sign of the times. You know, something else I've been giving thought to recently concerning property taxes. Every year I'm getting letters from agencies that claim to be able to reduce your taxes, and they usually work on a percentage of what they save you on your tax bill. They make claims that they have saved people hundreds of thousands of dollars just in central Texas alone + I'm sure there are other ones all over the state doing the same. If they can't save you any money, then there is no charge, etc. Now, this is all well + good, but my thoughts on the matter is that how can they do this? Evidently they are making enough money doing this to employ agents in their companies, so if there is money that can legally be deducted from your tax bill in the first place, then why are people being overcharged in the first place? And combine that with all the taxes being paid statewide. Quite a bundle there. Just a thought.

I use a company/agent to protest my Property Taxes every year. They get 35% of any tax reduction. I win about 75% of the protests I file. They won't file a protest they don't think they can win. If they don't get any tax reduction, I don't pay anything. So, 65% is better than nothing.

I understand there are cheaper options out there that take less than 35%.

You probably won't win a protest on a property subject to a Homestead / Over 65 exemption.

I used to file protests on my own. It was too much work, and I never won any protest. Friends say that if you file a protest in person, you will usually get some tax reduction. I lived overseas and had property management companies file on my behalf. I never won a reduction that way.

UPDATE: My experience so far this year is that no protests are being granted in Collin County, Texas, which seems about right considering we had a nice property tax reduction last year.

I won all my protests from Dallas County and received a 3.6% reduction in appraised value; not enough to move the needle much.