Travis CAD Values Are Online (Austin: home, buyer, tax)

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by South_ATX

What's stopping the appraiser from going to redfin.com and running a filtered search of sold homes in the last 3-6 months in proximity to your property? I get that they don't have access to the MLS system but as I mentioned in my earlier post that MLS data is now public, so I understand how they wouldn't use this information.

I have a SERIOUS objection to Redfin and their ilk doing this, working around the fact that Texas is a nondisclosure state, solely for their own benefit.


The MLS is NOT public and is not supposed to be. I might as well demand that your bank records be made public just because I want to see them and I should get to see whatever I want to see for whatever reason, even just curiosity.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I'll push back on that, and not because I'm a Realtor, but because I value my privacy and the privacy of my fellow Texans and the moment you give it to the tax guy it ends up online for all the world to see. I know, as I said, that there are people that are not from non-disclosure states that think they should have our private financial information just because they want it. The only reason I have it is because I'm licensed, it's essential for doing my job for my clients, and there are consequences to me if I give it to anyone with whom I don't have a client relationship. I don't think that can of worms should be opened, but I'm aware that the tax office is pushing for it to be and getting others to agree with them.

right, like your tax returns are online for the whole world to see? That argument simply doesnt hold. I can ask my agent already for the price of any sold home.

[AlterEgo42]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I have a SERIOUS objection to Redfin and their ilk doing this, working around the fact that Texas is a nondisclosure state, solely for their own benefit.


The MLS is NOT public and is not supposed to be. I might as well demand that your bank records be made public just because I want to see them and I should get to see whatever I want to see for whatever reason, even just curiosity.

Not the same thing at all. You're not taxed on your bank records.

[Trainwreck20]

So, is there a 'published' window for when actual sales comps are appropriate? There are two properties on my street with almost identical square footage as mine - one sold in July of 2018 (I assume this is too old) and one in November of 2018. The latter seems like a reasonable comp, but not sure if there is a 'fixed' window. The last time I protested, they were very slippery on establishing a date range and I cannot (easily, anyway) find it on the TCAD website.

Also, has anyone used remodel information when developing comps? Our house is essentially 'original' 1999 build, but many houses have had significant remodels done. Not sure it is worthwhile, but may try to dig up building permit info on any relevant comps.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

So, is there a 'published' window for when actual sales comps are appropriate? There are two properties on my street with almost identical square footage as mine - one sold in July of 2018 (I assume this is too old) and one in November of 2018. The latter seems like a reasonable comp, but not sure if there is a 'fixed' window. The last time I protested, they were very slippery on establishing a date range and I cannot (easily, anyway) find it on the TCAD website.

Also, has anyone used remodel information when developing comps? Our house is essentially 'original' 1999 build, but many houses have had significant remodels done. Not sure it is worthwhile, but may try to dig up building permit info on any relevant comps.

On my neighborhood group many people said they took pictures of their interior and got the quality rating downgraded which had a big impact on the value.

Here are some tips in the article. It doesnt mention a window for comps but for some reason Im thinking within 3 months of the 1st of the year (oct, nov, dec) but if there arent a ton of comps you could prob go back the entire year.

How to Protest Your Property Taxes and Win



When I went to protest myself it was quite frustrating. There were houses that were larger that were valued less. When I tried to compare they insisted they could only use houses of the same square footage because larger houses have a less value per square ft.

I get that and asked but how can a larger house with all other things being equal be valued less in total. It was circular and I hired protax every year after that.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by Austin97

When I went to protest myself it was quite frustrating. There were houses that were larger that were valued less. When I tried to compare they insisted they could only use houses of the same square footage because larger houses have a less value per square ft.

I get that and asked but how can a larger house with all other things being equal be valued less in total. It was circular and I hired protax every year after that.

Yeah, I might hire someone, but I have to look myself first to see what I think .

The last time I protested, it was almost comical. It was back in 2008 and there were almost no sales. I had -zero- comps of any size going back 3 months for something like 1/2 mile around my house, so I went back 6 months from the first of the year. They told me I could not use those, as they were too old. They instead used different comps that went back even further than mine - 8 or 9 months! I asked them why those weren't too old? They told me it was due to the low number of sales, so they expanded their window. I said, "oh, so I can use these 6 month old comps?". No, those are too old. WTF?! I almost felt bad for the guy, because you could tell he had been instructed on what to say, regardless of how much sense it made.

They also use houses that were 2/3 the size and used their formulas to adjust them. I pointed out that there were comps for identical sized houses that they could use. They selectively avoided anything that would lower the value and only picked ones that would raise the value, regardless of how contorted that might be.

They also added something like $20,000 to our value (compared to similar comps) since our house was 80% rock instead of 60% (or some similar number). I brought in a quote that showed that a neighbor (same floor plan) could 'rock' their house up from 60% to 80% for $8,000 or so (and not all that would add to market value, but that is a separate issue). He just kept pointing to their formula.

In the end, we got ~10% reduction, whereas I thought I should get closer to 14% easily, but I did not want to go to formal hearing. 2008 was certainly a nightmare year for those guys .

I have currently downloaded the info for the 95 houses around our block. One sold in the last three months of the year. One sold in the first three months of this year (not sure those are relevant?). Four more sold (for five total) in 2018. I am amazed at home many of the homes have been owned by the same people for 20 years.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

So, is there a 'published' window for when actual sales comps are appropriate? There are two properties on my street with almost identical square footage as mine - one sold in July of 2018 (I assume this is too old) and one in November of 2018. The latter seems like a reasonable comp, but not sure if there is a 'fixed' window. The last time I protested, they were very slippery on establishing a date range and I cannot (easily, anyway) find it on the TCAD website.

Also, has anyone used remodel information when developing comps? Our house is essentially 'original' 1999 build, but many houses have had significant remodels done. Not sure it is worthwhile, but may try to dig up building permit info on any relevant comps.

The value is supposed to be as of January 1 of the tax year. Comps can be three months before or after that date, so basically October 1-April 1.



At least in our case they did, when presented with photos showing problems the house had, take condition into consideration.

[srick123]

Quick Question. Williamson county has a pretty straight forward "Express protest" option for those who bought the home within the past 1 year. Do you know if TCAD has something similar, wherein we just email the closing document to a specific person and get it re-appraised?

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by srick123

Quick Question. Williamson county has a pretty straight forward "Express protest" option for those who bought the home within the past 1 year. Do you know if TCAD has something similar, wherein we just email the closing document to a specific person and get it re-appraised?

It is not identified uniquely, so you probably just have to check the box that says 'Incorrect appraised (market) value' and send in your purchase documents with the price.

[srick123]

Sure thanks. Can that be done online via email or is that a physical mail?