How My Property Is Appraised
At least once every three years, each parcel of property in Hays County is visited and reviewed by an appraiser (or data collector) from the appraisal district in accordance with Texas Law.
During that visit, the appraiser reviews property characteristics and records any changes from the last review cycle. (For example, if you have added or removed a barn or shed). The appraiser also looks closely at your improvements (houses or buildings) to see if there is any change in the exterior condition of your property.
Appraisal district appraisers never ask to inspect your home from the interior.
Typically, an appraiser will validate the:
- size and type of your improvements and note any additions,
- construction quality and condition of your improvements, and
- site characteristics.
If your property has an interior problem that is not visible from the exterior, an appraiser may review the interior of your home with you present or you may submit photos or repair estimate, etc.
Using these facts, the appraisal district will determine the market value of your property as of January 1 using the generally accepted three methods of appraisal if applicable:
- Sales comparison/market approach
- Cost approach
- Income approach
Because the appraisal district is placing a value on a large number of properties annually, we must utilize applicable features of each method and apply them uniformly to similar properties in a process known as mass appraisal.
Sales Approach
In order to determine the value of your property, the appraisal district must first know what properties have sold, and how much they are selling for in today’s market. By maintaining a database of real estate transactions, we can arrive at the property value by studying sales of comparable properties.
Cost Approach
This method of appraising property is based on how much it would cost today to build an identical structure on the property. If the property is not new, we must also determine how much value the building has lost over time due to depreciation.
Income Approach
This method is preferred when appraising an income producing property. This approach determines value through analysis of income and expenses to determine market value. Consideration is given for operating expenses, maintenance costs, and the return (or profit) that could be reasonably expected on the property.
Mass Appraisal
There are generally only two kinds of appraisal: fee appraisal and mass appraisal. Both types of appraisals utilize the same basic appraisal principles and theories. A fee appraisal utilizes the three methods discussed above but with only one parcel of property being valued. Mass appraisal values the entire county where market areas, neighborhoods, subdivisions, and large groupings of similar properties are appraised at one time by adopted standards.
Market Value and Assessed Value – What’s the difference?
When you receive a Notice of Appraised Value from the appraisal district, you will see a listing of market values both from last year and proposed for this year for your land and improvements. If you have a residential homestead exemption on your property, you might notice that your assessed value is less than your market value. That’s because in most cases, Texas law provides that the assessed value of a residence homestead property can only increase by ten percent per year, regardless of how much the market value increases. (Your assessed value may increase at a rate of ten percent per year until it matches the district’s appraised market value.)
If you have applied for and are receiving a special valuation for agricultural, timber, or wildlife management use on your land, you will also see the productivity value that has been assigned to your property. In this case, your taxes in October will be based upon the productivity value rather than the market value of the property.
How can the Appraised value change from year to year?
Property tax is “ad valorem” which means “based upon value.” When the market value of a property changes, so may its appraised value. Your property’s market value can change as a result of the economy in general or because of changes you’ve made to the property, making it more valuable. A sluggish economy, slow growth, and no demand or few potential buyers in the market may cause a decline in property values. Likewise, a growing economy with rapid growth may cause a rapid increase in property values.
What if I disagree with the value placed on my property by the appraisal district?
If you disagree with the value that has been proposed on your property, you should file a written protest to the Appraisal Review Board (ARB) and submit it to the appraisal district by the protest deadline printed on your Notice of Appraised Value. The ARB is a panel of local citizens that will listen to evidence presented by both you and the appraisal district and make a determination regarding the issues you have protested.
Appraised Value and the Tax Rate
Appraisal district appraisers are not the tax collector, and have nothing to do with the total amount of taxes assessed. The appraisal district is only responsible for determining what the market value of your property was on January 1.
The taxing jurisdictions (county, cities, schools, hospital districts, and water districts) determine your tax burden based upon the tax rates they adopt to fund their operating budgets.
These tax rates are expressed as a dollar amount for every $100 of taxable value and are adopted every year in August public hearings.
How are my taxes calculated?
Your taxes are calculated by dividing your taxable value by one hundred and multiplying by the jurisdiction’s tax rate. For example:
| Market Value | $100,000 |
| Less Exemptions | -$25,000 |
| Assessed Value | $75,000 |
| Apply Tax Rate | $0.50 per $100 |
| Assessed Taxes | $375.00 |
Is there anything I can do to lessen my tax burden?
There are a variety of exemptions that are available to homeowners and disabled veterans. If you own a farm or ranch, or grow some type of crop, you may be eligible to receive a special valuation under the provisions of open space land where your taxes will be based upon your land’s productivity capability rather than its market value.