Property tax issues

[rich1]

Originally Posted by jjuranko

I'm from California and looking to move to SA for many reasons. One big drawback, (that will not stop me), is the property taxes. Wow! I am no politician, but couldn't Texas come up with a more equal way of raising money for schools and services? From what I understand there is no state income tax in Texas. But would it not be more equal if property taxes were lowered and state income taxes assessed so that everybody that works would share the burden of paying for all the schools and services needed, instead of just home owners? After all people who rent also use the schools and services and ect. Maybe I don't understand the way taxes in Texas are used. Anyway, other then the taxes I love SA and can not wait to live their!

I couldn't agree with you more! I recently moved to SA, approximately a year ago and I'm shocked by the rate for property taxes. All the issues you raised hits the nail square on the head! My question is what's being done about SA coming up with a more equitable way to raise funding for schools.

Just think, I came here not knowing that the property taxes were so high! Many people will suggest Texas as a place to live because they "feel" that the cost of living isn't as high as many other places of "significance". But over the past year of me being here I beg to differ! I came from the Northern Virginia area where the cost of living is quite steep, thinking that Texas would be a cheaper or reduced cost of living area... Oh, but not so! The only commodity of any reasonable significance between Northern VA and here is food might be slightly less costly. Otherwise, I'm open to anyone pointing out to me any other differences. This is further impacted by the substantial differential in the wages earned between SA and Northern VA.

Well, welcome (in advance) to SA. Hope all works out well for you.

[noplacelikeWA]

Originally Posted by rich1

I couldn't agree with you more! I recently moved to SA, approximately a year ago and I'm shocked by the rate for property taxes. All the issues you raised hits the nail square on the head! My question is what's being done about SA coming up with a more equitable way to raise funding for schools.

Just think, I came here not knowing that the property taxes were so high! Many people will suggest Texas as a place to live because they "feel" that the cost of living isn't as high as many other places of "significance". But over the past year of me being here I beg to differ! I came from the Northern Virginia area where the cost of living is quite steep, thinking that Texas would be a cheaper or reduced cost of living area... Oh, but not so! The only commodity of any reasonable significance between Northern VA and here is food might be slightly less costly. Otherwise, I'm open to anyone pointing out to me any other differences. This is further impacted by the substantial differential in the wages earned between SA and Northern VA.

Well, welcome (in advance) to SA. Hope all works out well for you.

I couldn't agree with you more!! We also moved here about a year ago thinking we would enjoy a nice cost of living savings over Seattle and have yet to save anywhere except the cost of gas. The property taxes are double that of what we paid previously for our WA home that appraised for twice as much as our SA home. We have more house for the money but less land and everything else is the same cost or more! We only afford our 20% cut in income because we are now debt free aside from our mortgage. We are living comfortably but making sacrifices to remain debt free. We also didn't figure in the cost of replacing nearly entire wardrobes for a famly of 6.... lesson learned.

[fierce_flawless]

This is going to sound like a really dumb question... but help me understand!

I'm looking at 3 houses currently.

House A is in 78207, priced at $77,000 and taxes are $1511 a year. Tax value $53,500

House B is in 78210, priced at $74,900 and taxes are $2163 / yr. Tax value $72,990

House C is on the southside, can't recall zip. Priced at $69,900, taxes are $1924/yr. Tax value $66,760


I know that tax value and market value have "nothing" to do with one another, but doesn't it seem odd that the most expensive house on my list is the one with the lowest taxes?

It just seems like it ought to be more uniform or something, where you knew that if you buy a 70k house your taxes will be X and that's that. I've walked away from homes on this issue alone.

[AustinTraveler]

You can't go by what the current taxes are at all. Once the property sells, it will be assessed at a different rate. I wouldn't even look at the current taxes and just figure that you'll be paying more once the house is reassessed at current market value.

[ShaneSA]

The house will not be taxed at a different RATE, it will be taxed at the sale value. BCAD has now begun to raise the appraised value when the sale is recorded in the courthouse.
Expect the tax rate to be the same, I can't remeber the tax %, your realtor should know but multiply the sale price by __% (for some reason I want to say 1.5) and you will get the new tax after the sale is posted in the court house.
The politicians are very proud to say that Bexar County and SA have not raised taxe rates in 10 or 12 years...they have not raised the rates...just the appraisals.
Welcome to real estate surprise 101.