Few people I know like to pay taxes. San Antonio and Texas remain a smart place to buy a home or invest in residential real estate compared to the rest of the nation. But – the fact remains, the Lone Star State is ranked in the upper tier for property taxes. According to the Tax Foundation, Texas ranks sixth nationally in property taxes paid as a percentage of owner-occupied housing value.
Higher property values equals bigger tax bill
Property values across the Alamo City spiked over the past few years. Some homeowners, including yours truly, saw rates go up by 15 percent from the 2020-2022 tax period. For me that was just over a $100,000 tax increase assessed by the Bexar County Appraisal District (BCAD).
Use Your Exemptions!
Interestingly, the City of San Antonio is offering a series of workshops to identify options to lower your BCAD property tax bill. They’ll go over all the exemptions available to lower your property tax assessment. These include the homestead exemption everyone gets on their primary residence. There are also exemptions for senior citizens, people with disabilities and veterans. These workshops are in English and Spanish and in sign language. All the workshops are free of charge and open to the public.
Here’s a list of dates and places:
Monday, April 3, 4-6 p.m., Bibliotech EDU, 626 North Flores St.
Monday, April 10, 4-6 p.m., Cody Library, 11441 Vance Jackson Rd.
Thursday, April 13, 2-4 p.m., Second Baptist Church Community Center, 3310 East Commerce St.
Monday, April 17, 4-7 p.m., the Alamodome, meeting rooms K & L
Monday, April 24, 4-6 p.m., Walker Ranch Senior Center, Dining Hall, 835 West Rhapsody
Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lanier High School, 1514 West Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.
Monday, May 8, 4-6 p.m., the Tool Yard, 10303 Tool Yard
Appeal Your Tax Value
The workshops will also give instructions on how to contest your 2023 Tax assessment before the May 15, 2023, deadline. If you plan to appeal your property tax value, you need to do a little homework to support your case. Here are some suggestions from the city’s website to prep for your appeal:
- Research of your neighbor’s property values from the Bexar County Appraisal website.
- Take photos of property damage that could cause a decrease in value.
- Gather estimates for items that may need repair.
I lowered my property taxes by comparing tax values of properties surround my homestead. This data was presented through on online hearing. I showed how my neighbor’s property taxes, per square foot, were less than mine. Most of my neighbors had a lower property tax value even though their homes were larger than my residence. The arbitrator reduced my value by $25,000. In all, I spent about three hours to do the research, submit paperwork, and go through hearing. I think that’s a good return on time investment. If you need help looking up property tax values or would like a complimentary Comparative Market Analysis to assess the value of your home, please contact me. I’m happy to help.
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