Collin County Taxes - they can't be serious? (Houston, Dallas: houses, schools)

[Brookside]

We've been looking at homes in Allen, Plano, McKinney.

I went to Zillow and I looked up the 2008 taxes paid on a few homes we liked and they ranged from $5500 to (gulp) $7700!!!!

Talk about sticker shock -- ! In my current home we pay about $3600 a year.

McKinney seemed especially high. Why? Why? Why? Do the schools have gold-plated floors?

It's enough to turn me into a renter, forever (except for the income taxes, darn it!)

How do people afford it?

[nsumner]

Collin county is not as high as Dallas county... Check those out!

McKinney's 2.43 rate is not bad at all.

Naima

[FalconheadWest]

Collin COunty has some of the lowest rates in the area! Frisco in COllin County (Frisco splits counties) is like 2.1%. Plano is around 2.3. Richardson in Collin County is about 2.2%. Those are CHEAP!!

Many areas across the Dallas area are upwards of 2.5, 2.8, and even 3.1 %!!

Texas has NO state income tax and offsets it with homeowners. You're getting a great tax deduction.

[jimithing78]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

Collin COunty has some of the lowest rates in the area! Frisco in COllin County (Frisco splits counties) is like 2.1%. Plano is around 2.3. Richardson in Collin County is about 2.2%. Those are CHEAP!!

Many areas across the Dallas area are upwards of 2.5, 2.8, and even 3.1 %!!

Texas has NO state income tax and offsets it with homeowners. You're getting a great tax deduction.

Yeah, keep in mind we have no state income tax.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by jimithing78

Yeah, keep in mind we have no state income tax.

Yeah, but not so great for retirees on a limited income. I am going to get hit badly when I move next year.

To the OP: You can look on MLS listings for latest taxes paid. I'm just not sure how accurate Zillow is, since the prices aren't right for the houses I know about.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Yeah, but not so great for retirees on a limited income. I am going to get hit badly when I move next year.

To the OP: You can look on MLS listings for latest taxes paid. I'm just not sure how accurate Zillow is, since the prices aren't right for the houses I know about.

Taxpayer's Rights, Remedies and Responsibilities-January 2003

[escanlan]

If you would like the actual current tax rates on homes these are the links for the counties in and around DFW. As for Collin County they have steadily increased their rates over the last 8 years and made the maximum rate hikes they could get.

Collin County www.collincad.org
Dallas Central Appraisal District
Rockwall County
Hunt County Appraisal District
Denton County
Kaufman County Appraisal District
Tarrant County

Moderator cut: TOS violation

[Brookside]

That is sooo depressing. I don't think zero state income tax is going to offset the property tax increase.

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Yeah, but not so great for retirees on a limited income. I am going to get hit badly when I move next year.

To the OP: You can look on MLS listings for latest taxes paid. I'm just not sure how accurate Zillow is, since the prices aren't right for the houses I know about.

Most people I know think Zillow is pretty accurate. Only realtors - and sellers desperately wishing they could roll back the clock to 2007 (myself included) think Zillow is inaccurate.

BDG, Escalan - thanks for the links - very good info!

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by Brookside

Most people I know think Zillow is pretty accurate. Only realtors - and sellers desperately wishing they could roll back the clock to 2007 (myself included) think Zillow is inaccurate.

Texas is a NON-DISCLOSURE state which means Zillow has no way of being accurate except looking at liens that are filed, but that tells you nothing about what someone actually paid for the house. Ask Zillow, they admit it. They are only approx 65% accurate according to their own data.

[usc619]

You think that's bad, try living in Harris Co. (Houston) where they let the MUD rob you blind, not to mention the FACT they over-appraise your home so they can generate more money from you.

btw; 3.3 is about the norm in Katy Tx.