Not understanding how state/local taxes affect my mortgage analysis for Texas (Houston: big house)

[Surfertx]

I'm posting here because I'm new to Houston coming from CA. I don't understand the taxes part on my mortgage analysis. Especially the County, Utility and School taxes. The amount of taxes may vary with each years. Is there anything I can do to lower them?

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Surfertx

I'm posting here because I'm new to Houston coming from CA. I don't understand the taxes part on my mortgage analysis. Especially the County, Utility and School taxes. The amount of taxes may vary with each years. Is there anything I can do to lower them?

Big house in a "good school district" is going to have the highest taxes.

A trick that worked for me (not knowingly)
My house is 2500sq ft, somehow they calculate, let's say $80/sq.ft. = Valued at $200,000
and then somehow, I think just by multiplying all the percentages that total .... let's say 3% .... gives $6000 in property taxes.

My house's square footage is based on "livable space"
It doesn't count attic space, which is also useful.
My house is shaped like a 1-1/2 story house, so I get a big "side attic" and my garage is in front of the house.
I have a total of usable attic space of 600 sq. ft.

Using the previous equation and adding those 600sq.ft. .... my taxes would go from $6000 to almost $7500.

Might sound dumb, but there's not a single room in my house that is messy.
All the junk is nicely stored in the attics, technically, same as having another room.

[CptnRn]

1. Make sure you have signed up for the Homestead Exemption and any other exemptions you can qualify for. Exemptions - Harris County Appraisal District

2. You can hire a company like https://texasprotax.com to evaluate the taxes being assessed on your property and file a protest on your behalf to make sure your assessment is fair and reduce it if possible.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Surfertx

I'm posting here because I'm new to Houston coming from CA. I don't understand the taxes part on my mortgage analysis. Especially the County, Utility and School taxes. The amount of taxes may vary with each years. Is there anything I can do to lower them?

Municipal Utility District Taxes are the taxes for the water and other services that would be provided by a city if you were in an incorporated area.

And look at the link the other poster provided-Homestead Exemption saves you a lot of money.

[SpringBrancher]

In a new build community the MUD tax is really high because you are paying a 30 year bond note.

Taxes can go as high as 3.7% of the home value.

Your two recourse are to declare homestead exemption and to challenge on value. Bettencourt Tax Advisors knocked a lot of money off my tax value last year. We will see how they do this year. You've got to protest though. The tax appraisers will not deal with ordinary home owners but will work with the protest companies. It's corrupt but that's how it goes.

[lhafer]

Originally Posted by SpringBrancher

In a new build community the MUD tax is really high because you are paying a 30 year bond note.

Taxes can go as high as 3.7% of the home value.

Your two recourse are to declare homestead exemption and to challenge on value. Bettencourt Tax Advisors knocked a lot of money off my tax value last year. We will see how they do this year. You've got to protest though. The tax appraisers will not deal with ordinary home owners but will work with the protest companies. It's corrupt but that's how it goes.

Actually I’ve seen as high as 3.82% and have heard as high as 4%, but don’t know of any communities personally that are quite that high.

[SpringBrancher]

Originally Posted by lhafer

Actually I’ve seen as high as 3.82% and have heard as high as 4%, but don’t know of any communities personally that are quite that high.

Wow, that's awful.