The jump from 2021-22 in average market value was nearly three times the annual percent change in any other year since 2013 for properties within Conroe, Magnolia and Tomball ISDs. PROPERTY VALUES ON THE RISE
PROTESTS
$469,594
Conroe ISD
Magnolia ISD Tomball ISD
OVER THE YEARS The number of protests led in Harris County over appraisal values more than doubled from 2015-21, while the number of protests in Montgomery County grew 55.01% in that time.
$442,825
$300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $500,000 $450,000
$227,924
$226,515
Harris County Montgomery County
$206,731
$410,464
+114.65%
$250,000
78,851
169,258
$200,000
0
2013
2014 2015
2016 2017
2018 2019 2020 2021
2022
+55.01%
61,029
39,369
MEDIAN INCOME IN CISD
2013
$70,068
SURPASSING INCOME Property values have risen in Conroe, Tomball and Magnolia ISDs’ boundaries since 2013, but income has not kept up with the rise in property values.
+22.57%
2020
$85,883
AVERAGE MARKET VALUE IN CISD
2013
$226,515
+38.46%
2020
$313,633
MEDIAN INCOME IN TISD
2013
$85,306
+23.03%
$104,953
2020
informal hearing with the county’s appraisal review board, which may decide to lower the appraised value. The protest deadline for property owners was May 15. Nancy Becker, a Creekside Park resident who lives within TISD’s boundaries in Harris County, said her home’s valuation increased 30%, and while she employs a company to protest the taxes every year, the increase has become a topic of discussion among the community. “From what I’m hearing, people are planning to protest,” Becker said. “If you look at what houses are being priced at now, it’s o the charts.” Despite no guarantee of getting appraised values reduced, Belinoski said in an email he encourages market value is inaccurate and can provide information to warrant an adjustment. County data shows the number of protests led increased about 55% in Montgomery County and 114% in Harris County from 2015-21. property owners to protest, especially if they believe the
CONTINUED FROM 1
2013
$227,924
AVERAGE MARKET VALUE IN TISD
+44.27%
the county appraisal districts. In com- parison, the average market value for properties rose no more than 11.2% year over year in Montgomery County and 15.4% within Harris County in the years prior since 2010. As local taxing entities begin bud- get discussions for the upcoming scal year, Tammy McRae, Mont- gomery County’s chief tax asses- sor-collector, said at an April 21 tax workshop she believes lower tax rates are needed to compensate for this increase. “When values go high, tax rates need to go down,” McRae said. Montgomery County Chief Appraiser Tony Belinoski said all property is appraised at its full market value as of Jan. 1. Notices are sent to homeowners in the spring with a market value and appraised value. The market value is what the home is worth, whereas the appraised value is the taxable value before property tax exemptions. In years prior, the market and appraised values have been similar, Belinoski said. However, many home- owners may notice a discrepancy this year between values due to the state’s 10% cap on appraised value increases
2020
$328,833
MEDIAN INCOME IN MISD
2013
$70,861
+21.54%
2020
$86,121
AVERAGE MARKET VALUE IN MISD
2013
$206,731
+53.49%
2020
$317,309
SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 5 YEAR AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY ESTIMATES, MONTGOMERY CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
inventory of homes to purchase. The appraisers consider market transactions from home sales, and since so many homes have been sold above the asking price, this drives the market value up, according to Dick Lavine, senior scal analyst with Every Texan, an Austin-based public policy center. According to a May 3 news release from the Houston Association of Realtors, the median price of a single- family home in the Greater Houston area has increased nearly $80,000 in the last two years. Homeowners can protest appraised values if they feel they are inaccurate and receive an
while home values surge. Monique Sharp, president and general manager of The Woodlands Township, said the township o ers an additional $25,000 exemption to residents age 65 and over or who are disabled, but it may look at changes to that in its summer budget sessions. “The board plans to discuss and analyze potential increases to the 65 and older and disabled exemption as well as a homestead exemption,” she said. Appraised values rise The increase in appraised values is a result of several factors, o cial said. Belinoski said there is a large demand for homes in Texas but a low
“Most of the time [the ARB and homeowners] come to an agreement,” Belinoski said.
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