Anyone Else Find Property Taxes High In TX? (Houston, Austin: amusement parks, mortgage)

[falnlovewtx]

It's probably not the easiest to figure out, but it just appears that real property taxes is very high in all parts of tx. I try to compare house for house, sq ft for sq ft and everything in tx just seems high. what's your experience? any city that you find less than other cities?

[USA_Mom]

We found it high compared to Georgia and the same as California, but houses were less expensive in Texas so while I may be paying the same property taxes as I was in Cali; I am not paying the same mortgage payment for less house. In Georgia we have found a comparable house would be at least 75% more so for us while the taxes are higher, compared to the house price AND state income tax it's a win-win.

[bmantx]

yes, I have found that property taxes are high, but the overall price of the house and no state tax compensates for the high property tax. Atleast in my opinion.

[Trainwreck20]

You will generally find lower property taxes in rural areas, since cities tend to stack their taxes on top of the school taxes and county taxes. Some MUDs have higher tax rates to help pay for infrastructure that was installed by the developer instead of a city/county.

[lonestar2007]

I've been looking around the state and it is shocking to see how how high the property taxes (just for school and county) are in the rural areas, and I mean rural, out in no man's land. County roads that are gravel or even dirt, old schools that are really behind the times, little dried up towns. Miles and miles to get to anywhere. You can live outside large metro areas, just stay outside the city limits, and not pay any more taxes, sometimes less. Yet, within 30 minutes of amusement parks, musuems, arts, fine restraurants, etc. It's strange, really got to check the areas out.

[teatime]

I found West Texas property taxes are pretty low. I saw on the news last week that the taxes are so low in Sweetwater that the residents themselves are asking for a tax increase to cover city beautification!

But no matter where you live, don't forget about the homestead exemption! I cant remember if it's $10,000 or $15,000 off your appraised value. That helps out a lot! Also, there's a disability exemption and in some cities (happily, Abilene!) senior citizens and disabled people get their tax rate frozen so it will never increase!

[cdelena]

Overall averages show Texas property taxes as highest in the country when measured as a percentage of appraised value. Statistics on per capita taxes or overall tax burden will have other states higher.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by teatime

I found West Texas property taxes are pretty low. I saw on the news last week that the taxes are so low in Sweetwater that the residents themselves are asking for a tax increase to cover city beautification!

But no matter where you live, don't forget about the homestead exemption! I cant remember if it's $10,000 or $15,000 off your appraised value. That helps out a lot! Also, there's a disability exemption and in some cities (happily, Abilene!) senior citizens and disabled people get their tax rate frozen so it will never increase!

Sweetwater's taxes are $18.98 per $1,000 of home value and to me, that's quite high. I picked a few others at random to compare:

Waco $16.65, Tyler $15.45, Austin $22.06.

[jfre81]

More of your money stays local rather than going directly to the state for them to spend as they please, e.g. state income tax. Your money goes more to schools, community colleges etc. than anything. If you want lower property taxes, do not live inside an incorporated city limits and you will not have a municipal property tax.

There are a few cities/towns in Texas, one that I can think of immediately is Stafford (near Houston) that does not levy a municipal residential property tax.

[cdelena]

Local school taxes do not stay at home over a certain level... Primary school taxes are equalized across the state.