Travis Bunn
Founder, AppealDesk · Published February 28, 2026
Start your Texas appeal: Harris County · Dallas County · Travis County · Bexar County · Tarrant County · Collin County · Denton County · Fort Bend County · Williamson County · Montgomery County
Enter your address to see if your home may be overassessed. Takes 60 seconds.
$49 flat fee · No percentage of savings · No hidden costs
Updated March 2026
Every year, 60% of properties are over-assessed. That's not our opinion, it's from the National Taxpayers Union. Yet only 2% of homeowners appeal.
Here are the five clearest signs you're in that 60% and what to do about it.
The Red Flag: Your assessed value increased by more than 10% from last year without major improvements.
Why It Happens: Counties often apply blanket percentage increases to entire neighborhoods. They assume if some houses sold for more, all houses are worth more. This lazy math ignores individual property differences.
Real Example: In Dallas County, entire subdivisions saw 15-20% increases in 2025 when only a handful of renovated homes actually sold. The non-renovated homes got swept up in the increase.
What to Do: Check your assessment history. If you see a sudden spike without adding a pool or major renovation, you're likely over-assessed. [Use our calculator to see what similar homes actually sold for →]
The Red Flag: Houses on your street with the same builder, square footage, and features are assessed 15%+ lower than yours.
Why It Happens:
How to Check: Most counties have online property search tools. Look up 3-4 neighbors with similar homes. Compare:
If you're paying $2,000+ more per year than identical houses, you're over-assessed.
Quick Test: [Enter your address here] to instantly see what neighbors pay.
The Red Flag: Homes similar to yours sold for less than your assessed value in the past 12 months.
The Math: If your home is assessed at $400,000 but similar homes sold for:
Average sale price: $371,000 Your assessment: $400,000 You're over-assessed by $29,000 (7.8%)
Critical Detail: Compare only truly similar homes:
This is the #1 way to prove over-assessment, and it's exactly what appraisal boards look for.
Get an instant estimate of your potential savings. Takes 30 seconds.
The Red Flag: Your home is assessed at a higher percentage of market value than other properties in your area.
Understanding Ratios:
Example:
This is called "unequal appraisal" and it's grounds for appeal even if your assessment matches market value.
The Red Flag: Your assessment assumes perfect condition but your property has:
Why Counties Miss This: Mass appraisal = drive-by guessing. They see your neighborhood, not your specific issues.
Common Missed Conditions:
Document Everything: Photos, repair estimates, and contractor assessments prove condition issues.
Count how many apply to your property:
□ Assessment increased >10% without improvements □ Similar neighbor homes assessed lower □ Recent comparable sales below your assessment □ Your assessment ratio exceeds area median □ Property has unreflected condition issues
Score:
Let's be clear about the cost of inaction:
$25,000 over-assessment = $625/year extra (at 2.5% tax rate)
Over 10 years, that's $6,250 in unnecessary taxes. Plus you can't get refunds for past years, only current and future savings.
Every year you wait is money permanently lost.
Enter your address for a professional evidence packet. Flat $49 fee.
Knowing you're over-assessed is step one. Proving it requires:
You can do this yourself (budget 10-20 hours) or let AppealDesk generate everything in 5 minutes.
Here's what most homeowners don't realize: Filing an appeal is not complicated when you have the right evidence. The boards know what over-assessment looks like. They see it every day.
Your job is simply to show them:
With proper documentation, the majority of appeals win at least a partial reduction (National Taxpayers Union). Without it, most fail.
The choice is yours: Spend weeks learning the process or spend $49 for a professional packet that wins.
Watch for assessments above 100% of market value. Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes are aggressive.
Post-Prop 13 reassessments upon sale often overshoot. New owners are particularly vulnerable.
Cook County's multipliers create systematic over-assessment. Check your township's ratio.
Non-homestead properties face aggressive increases. Save Our Homes cap doesn't protect investment properties.
If even one of these signs applies to you, it's worth checking your assessment. If two or more apply, you're almost certainly overpaying.
The average successful appeal saves $1,847 per year. Forever.
Don't be part of the 98% who just pay whatever shows up. Be part of the 2% who know better.
Remember: Counties count on your inaction. Every year you wait is money you'll never get back.