Tax Appraisal - did you get yours yet?

I came across this article on keyetv.com (Channel 42 / CBS) and thought it was worth passing along. If you have received your Williamson County Tax Appraisal for next year, and you are interested in protesting, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We will be glad to assist you with this task - all you have to do it call! Our office hours are M-F 8-5 PM. Saturdays, Sundays, and evenings by appointment. 512-515-6565

Austin - Travis County mailed its latest property appraisals, outraging some homeowners who tell us they are too high. So, property owners are flooding appraisal district offices to protest.Austin resident Ryan Hoke and his wife enjoy evening walks around their Scofield Farms neighborhood. But when the county sent them the property appraisal for their home, they didn't enjoy that."My reaction was you know this is definitely too high. You know it's a huge difference but it was enough I felt like it was worth my time to protest it," says Ryan Hoke. Hoke isn't alone. Hundreds are heading to the appraisal office demanding to meet with the review board. They say something must be wrong because the appraisals are higher than ever.Austin resident Larry Weisinger says, "Oh my goodness it was about heart failure. It was double the value of what we spent on building the home." Weisinger fought his appraisal and won. "They went up about over 400%."Patty Miller is a school teacher and paying much more in taxes would break her budget. She protested her appraisal and won. "I did a lot of looking into property that was selling in my area." Austin grew by an estimated 30,000 people last year. Travis County Chief Appraiser Patrick Brown tells CBS 42 News it's why property values are up. Brown says neighborhoods are seeing a “Mc-Plosion” of “Mc-Mansions” which is another reason."I think as long as job growth is fairly consistent and as long as we got new residents moving in the values will continue to trend up," says Brown.Nobody we talked to wants their property taxes to go up but at the same time they don't want their property value to go down.Unlike a lot of the country, property values in Austin are up, not down. For the 2008 tax year we're told you can expect to see your home value rise almost 12%.Compared to other Texas cities Brown says Austin property tax appraisals are competitive. The appraisal district says the average home price in Travis County is $285,000.
Copyright 2008, Four Points Media Group LLC. All Rights Reserved.