Property Tax Protests

By now you should have received your tax assessment from the tax appraisal district.  Because of the increase in real estate values in the Austin area, people are surprised by how much their appraisal for tax purposes has gone up.  This is very important as the higher value could result in a much higher property tax bill later this year.

If you think the tax appraisal is too high, you can protest the appraisal with your taxing authority.

Please keep in mind there is a deadline to protest.  In most counties the deadline is mid-May, but if you plan to protest you should check your county’s timelines as soon as possible.

Here are links to the county’s websites:

Travis County: Travis County Tax Protest

Williamson County: Williamson County Tax Protest

Hays County:  Hays County Tax Protest

The counties have so many resources on their websites that are worth reviewing.  They explain the process and provide the forms you will need to fill out for the protest.

Many of my clients ask for a referral for a company and can do this.  Here are a few that my clients have used in the past.

Five Stone Tax Protest

Texas Pro Tax

It is worth a call to these consultants because they will be able to help you decide if you should protest and usually there is no fee unless they are successful.  Please inquire with them as to their fees and how they work.  There are many other companies that do this so please do your due diligence to find one you feel most comfortable with.

If you are concerned about property taxes in Texas support Prop 2.  For more information click on the link below to learn what this proposition can do for homeowners in Texas.

Texans For Prop 2- Property Tax Relief

As always please consider me a resource for your real estate questions I am happy to help!

Judith Bundschuh, CPA

Realtor

Austin Hikes

One of my favorite things about Austin is how you can be in the city but feel like you are miles away by walking or hiking one of the beautiful parks.

My favorite is the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and then specifically the Hill of Life.  The Hill of Life is the access point at 710 Camp Craft Road.  It is beautiful with views in every direction.  The hill is a great workout with 300 feet of elevation in 1/2 mile.  I like it because I love being outside and getting a workout, there are always people out with their beautiful dogs, families getting going down to the water, or people training for their next big trip to climb that mountain on their list of things to do.  We trained on the Hill of Life to prepare for our trip to climb Mount Fuji. 

Things you should know:

• The weekends are usually busy and mountain bikers love the hill too. You definitely want to stay out of the way of the mountain bikers. 
• If you can get there early in the day that is better because there may be fewer people there, but anytime is still great!
• I wear my hiking boots but you don't have to.  I see people in flip flops, but because there is a lot of loose rock on the trail I prefer my hiking boots.
• There is no drinking water there so bring your own water.
• There is one toilet (that I know of) and it always looks like it has had way too many visits so plan ahead.  I wouldn't plan to use that toilet.
• Parking is limited, it is in a subdivision, and you need to pay to park.  You have to have an ATX app to pay for parking. 
• It is so worth it to check it out.  I hope you enjoy the Hill of Life and the Barton Creek Greenbelt if you haven't already.

Here is some more information about the Barton Creek Greenbelt

I'd love to hear what you think of the Hill of Life.

Judith 

Austin has been experiencing so much growth- but what about your insurance coverage?

The Austin market has been exploding which is great for how much equity you have in your home, but one thing people forget to do is check to see if their homeowner's insurance coverage is adequate.  I don't want to bring down the excitement of the equity, but we do want to protect it.  It is a good idea to review your homeowner's insurance policy.  If you bought your home a while back and haven't reviewed your insurance coverage, you may be underinsured. If you want to get more information check out the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) website.  It is a great resource and has lots of useful information about insurance.

Why it matters:

Most insurance policies use replacement costs (rebuilding costs) when covering a claim.  The TDI advises that you should check with your insurance company to find out what it would cost to rebuild your home in the event of a loss. If you need to rebuild your home you will need to consider the cost of the materials.  Due to demand for housing and remodels, construction materials are soaring. Boomberg. That means that replacement costs to fix your home in the event of damage will be higher too. To be protected, your insurance coverage should match the rebuilding costs.  Texas Department of Insurance

If you haven't done it yet, it is a good idea to review your insurance coverage with your insurance agent and protect one of your most valuable assets.  If you would like a referral to a few great insurance agents please reach out to me.  You can call, or text 512-771-7209 or email me at Judith@CR-ATX.com.

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We can definitely fill you in on details that are not listed on the report and help you determine the best home for you. If you are wondering if now is the time to sell, please try out our INSTANT home value tool. You’ll get an estimate on the value of your property in today’s market. Either way, we hope to hear from you soon as you get to know our neighborhoods and local real estate market better.