HCAD Property Tax Protests - Jubally (Howe: appointed, lawyer, houses)

[Spartacus713]

The last couple of years, I have used Jubally to provide information for an evaluation of my HCAD appraised property value and tax bill, and as support for my formal protest hearing. They provide the information, you do the protest presentation with the HCAD Appraisal Review Board yourself. The price for that this year was $75, which is up from last year. Last year I got everything I asked for and my HCAD property value was reduced by over $20,000.

Another way to get help with your protest is to hire a company like O'Connor to handle it all for you, but then you owe them 50% of all the money that you save. That seems like too much to me, especially if you win any substantial recovery. With Jubally, you pay them their fee upfront and then everything that you save you keep.

So Jubally provided a preliminary calculation that showed my home was overvalued by about $19,000 this year, so I decided to pay the fee and loge the protest.

I just got back from my HCAD ARB hearing, and the ARB awarded me only a $5,000 reduction in value. If I had known that would be all, I may well have decided not to pursue it this year. I am disappointed in the outcome. In any case, I was thoroughly familiar with the data package and the ARB chair told me I made an excellent presentation. The appraiser then started pulling up information and calculation components that were not included in my Jubally package.

The key comparable I had offered was a home in my neighborhood, with the same exact floor plan and lot size, that was constructed the same year. In my Jubally package, this home was valued at about $17,000 less than mine. The appraiser then pulled up data on this comparable home showing that it was "noticed" at only $5,000 less, so the data did not match. This was really disturbing, because Jubally was supposedly using the most up to date information, which I downloaded yesterday. It could be that HCAD is not providing the same information to the public that they are using in-house. Or it could be that Jubally is not providing the correct, up to date information.

Also, several other comparables that HCAD provided were actually in my immediate neighborhood, although several were quite a bit larger. However, they were all constructed the same year. Meanwhile, the Jubally comparables were mostly about a quarter mile up the street in a neighboring community that was built two years before mine. While the day was not a complete failure, I felt like Jubally's preliminary calculation that I based my decision to protest on was not as reliable as maybe it should have been. Perhaps I am just a little hot because I did not get the full result that I expected. Anyway, this thread is my way of blowing off some steam about this.

Anyone else protest their property taxes using Jubally? What was your experience?

[PedroMartinez]

I do not believe you can get a fair shake from HCAD anymore. I think the system has been compromised and you're forced to use a professional service that hires HCAD employees who have the buddy connections. I know this deviates from your question a bit, but I had vent as well. Lol.

[huma281]

I came in with a piece of paper a few weeks ago and lowered my value by $17k. I wanted more, but was told I needed more proof. For some reason, they don't understand how to read the maps (a lot of lake lots and homes with no homes behind them, third car carages etc) and think all the houses are the same tier levels.

Next year I plan on taking pictures of the homes that are comparable to mines, any faults in my home and estimates for any repairs. Pictures of the subdivision, other homes with the lake lots, gated community inside my subdivision, etc etc.

Basically we have to put in the effort and do our homework if we are to convince them to appraise our homes at a fair value.

[haudi]

I put in my own effort and was denied. Hired OConnor and was still denied. We had solid evidence too. Just because you put in the effort and think you have an open and shut case doesn't mean you will get anything from them.

[huma281]

Originally Posted by haudi

I put in my own effort and was denied. Hired OConnor and was still denied. We had solid evidence too. Just because you put in the effort and think you have an open and shut case doesn't mean you will get anything from them.

Is your home already at or below the avg sq ft per $ in your subdivision?

[haudi]

Nope. Much higher per sq/ft than anyone else on the street. HCAD lowered everyone but us on the street when they did their 2016 assessments. Average drop in value was 20k.

Originally Posted by huma281

Is your home already at or below the avg sq ft per $ in your subdivision?

[crone]

Originally Posted by haudi

I put in my own effort and was denied. Hired OConnor and was still denied. We had solid evidence too. Just because you put in the effort and think you have an open and shut case doesn't mean you will get anything from them.

The AGs office took some sort of action against O'Connor according to the HCAD website.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by crone

The AGs office took some sort of action against O'Connor according to the HCAD website.

I've heard O'Conner wasn't following through for new clients. Supposedly, they weren't filing protests for them. Additionally, a lawyer friend told me they were, or should, be in big trouble.

I went with Bettencourt.

[crone]

It is a good thing you passed on O'Connor.

I heard from somebody in that building that the Bettencourt people were very good. There are also a couple of individuals who are also good.

[haudi]

I'm completely regretting my decision to use them and now it's a little late for this year