A Step By Step Guide To Protesting Your Property Appraisal In Bexar County
Real estate can be complex and overwhelming – from navigating the legalities of home buying and selling, to filing your property appraisals. If you’re unsure about how to proceed with your protest in Bexar County, our step-by-step guide is here to help! Find out what you need to do to ensure your property assessment reflects the true value it holds.
What is Property Appraisal?
A property appraisal is an estimate of a property’s value. It is used by lenders to determine how much money to lend you for a mortgage and by governments to determine your property tax bill.
The appraiser looks at factors such as the location, size, age, condition and features of your home, as well as recent sales of similar homes in the area. The appraisal report will also give you an estimated value of your home.
If you think the appraiser has underestimated the value of your home, you can protest the appraisal. The first step is to contact the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) in your county and request a review. You will need to provide evidence to support your claim, such as recent comparable sales or estimates from licensed contractors.
The ARB will review your case and decide whether to revise the appraised value of your home upward or downward. If you are still not satisfied with the result, you can appeal to the Texas State Comptroller’s office.
What is a Protest?
When you become aware that your property has been appraised at a value lower than you believe it to be worth, you have the right to protest that appraisal. The Bexar Appraisal District (BAD) is responsible for determining the appraised value of all properties within the county, and they use a mass appraisal system to do so. This means that they appraise all similar properties in the same area using the same method, rather than appraising each property individually. As a result, it is not uncommon for homeowners to find that their property has been given a lower appraised value than they believe it deserves.
If this happens to you, don’t panic! You can protest your appraisal with BAD, and there’s a good chance you’ll be successful. Here’s a step-by-step guide to protesting your Bexar County property appraisal:
1. Gather your evidence. You’ll need to show why you believe your property is worth more than what BAD has appraised it at. This could include recent sales prices of similar properties in your area, estimates from professional appraisers, or even photos or videos of your property highlighting its unique features.
2. Submit your evidence online or in person. BAD offers both an online and in-person option for submitting your protest evidence. If you submit online, you’ll need to create an account and login first. Once you’re logged in, click on “File a Protest” and follow the instructions
Why Would I Need To File A Property Appraisal Protest?
A property appraisal protest is filed when you believe that the Appraisal District has incorrectly appraised your property. The most common reason for filing a protest is because the appraised value is too high.
If the appraised value of your property is too high, you will end up paying more taxes than you should. This can be a significant amount of money, especially if your property is large or valuable. With help of an advocate you have the right to file Bexar County Property Tax Protest as well.
Another reason to file a property appraisal protest is if you believe that the Appraisal District has incorrectly classified your property. This can result in a higher tax bill, as well.
The Appraisal District must receive your protest by May 31st. You can file your protest online, by mail, or in person.
When you file your protest, you will need to provide some basic information about yourself and your property. You will also need to state the reasons why you believe the appraised value is incorrect.
A hearing will be scheduled for your protest within 45 days after the Appraisal District receives it. At the hearing, an Appraisal Review Board will hear both sides and make a decision.
Preparing for a Protest Hearing in Bexar County
If you’re like most people, the first thing you think of when you hear the word “protest” is probably something along the lines of marching with a picket sign. But in the context of protesting your property appraisal in Bexar County, Texas, a protest hearing is a specific type of legal proceeding.
The Bexar County Appraisal District (BCAD) is responsible for appraising all properties within the county for tax purposes. The BCAD appraises properties as of January 1st every year and sends out Notices of Appraised Value (NOAVs) to each property owner in early May. If you disagree with the appraised value on your NOAV, you have the right to file a protest with the BCAD.
Once your protest is received, the BCAD will schedule a hearing with one of their Board of Directors (BOD). At this hearing, both you and a representative from the BCAD will have an opportunity to present your respective arguments. After hearing both sides, the BOD will render a decision on what they believe to be the correct appraised value for your property. To file for Bexar County property tax appeal you can hire an advocate
There are a few things you can do to prepare for your protest hearing and increase your chances of getting a favorable outcome. First, it’s important that you make sure your NOAV was properly filled out and filed within the required timeframe. Second, gather any documentation or evidence that supports your case – this could include recent sales
Steps to Follow When Filing a Property Appraisal Protest in Bexar County
It’s important to know how to file a property appraisal protest in Bexar County so that you can get the most accurate value for your home. The steps to follow are:
1.Research the Value of Your Home: In order to protest your appraised value, you must first research the true market value of your home. This can be done by comparing your home to similar properties in your neighborhood that have recently sold.
2.Submit Your Protest: Once you have determined the true market value of your home, you will need to submit a written protest to the Appraisal District. Be sure to include any supporting documentation, such as recent sales data or photos of comparable homes.
3.Attend the Informal Hearing: An informal hearing will be scheduled so that you can present your case to the Appraisal Review Board. This is an opportunity for you to explain why you believe your home is worth more than what was appraised.
4.Wait for a Decision: The Appraisal Review Board will review all of the evidence and make a determination on your protest. You should receive notification of their decision within a few weeks.
After The Protest: Assessing Success or Moving Forward With Additional Action
After a protest is filed, the Appraisal District will review the evidence and determine if a change in value is warranted. If the Appraisal District does not agree with the homeowner, the homeowner will be notified by mail of the Appraisal District’s decision. The written notice will also contain instructions on how to appeal the decision to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB).
The ARB is a three-member panel appointed by the Commissioners Court. The ARB will review both the homeowner’s evidence and the Appraisal District’s appraised value. After considering all of the evidence, the ARB will issue a written decision that either agrees with, or changes, the appraised value set by the Appraisal District.
Once a protest is filed, it is important to stay involved and monitor the process to ensure your property is being valued correctly. If you are not satisfied with either the Appraisal District’s or ARB’s decision, you have the option of taking your case to district court.
Conclusion
The process of protesting your property appraisal in Bexar County can be overwhelming, but our step-by-step guide has broken it down into easy and achievable steps. Property appraisals are important to ensuring you get the proper tax liability. Taking advantage of the tools provided by Bexar County such as the Online Protest Filing System and attending informal hearings with an expert in understanding how these values are determined is critical to ensure that you get a fair value for your home or property
