How to Protest Your Dallas Property Tax Assessment

Even though it seems like yesterday when you paid your annual property taxes - it's not too early to start thinking about your next tax bill.

While there are many reasons for protesting a property tax assessment, the most common is when a home owner feels that the proposed value of theirr home is too high. And given the previous year's sales, this may be the case for many. Protests must be filed in writing and the deadline for the 2011 tax year is May 31.

Since your protest should include documentation that supports your market value position, including photographs of any items needing repair, now may be the time to start documenting those items. If you have recently bought your home, then you should provide a copy of your closing statement and/or a fee appraisal if one was done for financing purposes. If you have not recently purchased your home, you should provide sale comparables from a real estate professional familiar with your neighborhood.

As a Realtor active in the Dallas market, I'm happy to prepare a Comparative Market Analysis, which provides information on the value of comparable homes, for friends and clients. But usually you need to call me early. Even though the deadline is four months away, it will be here before we know it!

You can find additional details on how to file a protest in Dallas County at http://www.dallascad.org/ .
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