The new property tax assessed values were mailed to Travis County homeowners recently, and if you are shocked at the increase in value listed for your property, don’t despair!

There is a process you can follow to protest your Property Tax Appraisal in Travis County – and the odds are fairly good that if you do protest the value, you will win a reduction.

Here’s what to do:

Read the new valuation carefully, noting the increase in the market value for “Buildings and other Structures” and for “Land”. You can build a case against the increase for each type separately. For example, if your home’s roof or other major systems are older than those on homes that have sold recently, that’s a valid issue to point out. And if your lot is larger than others, but has drainage issues or a steep slope, you could argue that negatively impacts the value as well.

Analyze the data for comparable homes to yours that sold between July 1 of last year and January 31st of this year. The appraised value listed on your report is for Jan 1st, so that’s why it’s important to consider the sales prices for the 3 months prior to and after that date. Not the homes that have sold around the time you received your notice in the mail, or the date you are preparing to file the protest.

Most homeowners end up checking the boxes on the protest form that say “Value is over market value” and “Value is unequal compared with other properties” unless after analyzing the data they realize they’re lucky to only have received the increase that they did! After all, sometimes it doesn’t make sense to protest your property tax appraisal in Travis County.

There is some strategy around WHEN you submit your protest. I recommend filing as close to May 31st as possible, without being late of course. Hearings are done in the order the protest forms are received. And if other homes’ values in your area have been successfully protested (reduced) before, those reductions in value will help your case.  Remember, you have the option to efile online or request an in person hearing. I personally prefer the efile method because it is more efficient. I’ve heard no reports that one method generates better results than the other. 

But Wait! How do I get access to this magical data that will save me money!!!???

This is a good time to call upon a relationship you have with a friendly Realtor who knows your neighborhood quite well and is good at working with data (Ahem – I don’t want to brag but…I have been doing this for 16 years and I’m pretty good at it…and I’m helpful…).You want to be sure this person is really taking the time to find the nuances that can show why your property shouldn’t follow the average undeniable increase in values our market has enjoyed, so give this person at least a week to work this favor into their schedule.

And consider rewarding them with coffee (Starbucks nonfat extra hot mocha), wine (Shiraz, please) OR best of all, a referral to a friend or colleague who is thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate.

Alternatively, you can hire a firm to protest your property tax appraisal in Travis County. These companies typically work on a contingency plan, where they take between 35-60% of the savings the earn you. So if they save you $1,000 in taxes, they’d collect between $350 and $600. If they don’t earn you a reduction, you don’t pay them anything. I don’t personally have a firm to recommend or warn against, so I’d suggest Googling if you want to go this direction.

Visit www.LetsMoveAustin.com for a complete list of all properties for sale in the greater Austin area. Unlike Zillow or Trulia, we promptly and automatically remove all sold and expired listings. Our database is updated every 5 minutes, every day of the year to guarantee you the most accurate list of properties to view possible.

Theresa Bastian of Let’s Move Austin Sets A Sales Price Record in Circle C Park West!

512-297-3442 – www.LetsMoveAustin.com – Austin, TX real estate and investment specialists.

Let’s Move Austin, an Austin real estate brokerage, has sold another home in Southwest Austin. This home in Circle C sold for $489,250 after just 10 days on the market. This sets a record for the highest priced home to ever sell in the gated section of Park West at Circle C.

The 2 story home at 6304 Tasajillo Trail is located in the Southwest Austin community of Park West at Circle C. The home has 4 room 3 baths, and approximately 2,944 square feet. The property has a lot size of .115 acres and was built in 2001. This house is zoned to the Austin schools of Kiker Elementary, Gorzycki Middle School and Bowie High School. It featured a gourmet kitchen and a large back deck overlooking the Circle C Metropolitan Park.

Let’s Move Austin represented the sellers of this property, who were enthusiastic at selling their investment property at top dollar. Let’s Move Austin’s VIP Sellers Program, which includes staging, professional photography, and extensive pre-MLS marketing, assisted in creating buyer demand for the property. Due to her extensive knowledge of the Southwest Austin market, Theresa Bastian was able to negotiate aggressively on her clients’ behalf throughout the transaction, saving them thousands on inspections and appraisal concessions.

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A former teacher, Theresa Bastian is passionate about public education. She now owns Let's Move Austin, and is ready to help you buy, sell, lease, or invest in real estate throughout Austin and Central Texas. Call 512-297-3442 to get started today.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TODAY?

I want to sell my Austin, TX property

I’d like to Search for Austin Real Estate

I’d like to speak to someone from Lets Move Austin

You’ve decided the time is right to stop throwing away your money on rent, and it’s time to buy a home. But what exactly can you afford? Should you consider a condo or town house? How exactly do you get started with the process of homeownership? In truth, many people start looking at listings online and get so caught up with these questions and looking at the different properties that they never actually take the steps needed to actually buy a home. And before you know it, another year has passed with another $20 or $30k paid to a landlord.

Here are 5 crucial tips we offer for home buyers in the Austin area to help make sure you get started on the path to success:

#1 – Talk to a lender very early on – ideally, before you even start looking at homes online. A good lender is going to look at your specific situation and goals and be honest with you about how much home you can afford. And if something on your credit report needs to be improved or corrected, it’s much better to know that in the early stages of this process. When a lender pulls your credit for a mortgage, it doesn’t hurt your credit score like applying for credit cards or car loans does. And having this initial conversation doesn’t lock you in to using that same lender for your actual purchase. You’d still be able to shop around if you want. So there’s really no reason NOT to call a lender and get pre-approved early on. If you would like a list of lenders our home buyers in the Austin area have had great experiences with recently, email theresa@letsmoveaustincom and she will send that to you right away.

#2 – Identify a Realtor and interview them to be sure you’re a match. The expertise your Realtor has, and your communication with that Realtor, will contribute greatly to how smooth your home buying experience is. We have created a document titled 10 Questions to Ask Your Realtor and recommend you actually to interview potential Realtors before deciding on who to use. Many buyers don’t realize that there is a big variety in Realtors’ response time to clients, ability to write offers that can give their clients a leg up, especially in multiple offer situations, and negotiate strongly for their clients throughout the transaction, not just at the point of the initial offer. You want to work with someone that understands how major this home purchase is, and who you trust to advocate for you interests.

#3 – Let all communication take place between the agents. Sometimes buyers make the mistake of visiting an open house and talking to the Realtor there about how much they like the home, or asking how much negotiating room there is on that home. Trust me when I say a good listing agent is going to try to get as much information as they can out of you during that conversation…so that they can advocate better for their client – who is the seller, not you. Your seemingly innocent conversation could possibly hurt your negotiating power.

#4 – Put it in writing. Real estate contracts must be in writing to be valid. Be certain to review all contracts carefully, and if you don’t understand ask questions. If you discussed something with your agent, such as the refrigerator staying in the house, be sure that is written into the contract. If the seller agrees to make repairs, or have the furnace serviced, or remove some items from the garage, those points will need to be specifically added to the contract. And of course any such additions will need to be signed or initialed by both the buyer and seller in order to be valid. While it’s nice to think about sealing deals on a handshake, in reality if it’s not in writing you don’t have any recourse if it doesn’t happen.

#5 – Don’t pass on a home inspection. In our hot real estate market, it’s easy for Austin area home buyers to feel somewhat dejected if they’ve made offers on properties that weren’t accepted. One strategy some agents will suggest is waiving the right to an inspection. We believe that unless you are a seasoned real estate investor/flipper, this is a mistake. There is so much information learned in a home inspection that it is foolish to waive your right to conduct one. Instead, we have a list of home inspectors that our clients have worked with successfully that can schedule inspections for our clients very quickly. So instead of skipping the inspection, we can help you get it down quickly – say in 3 days rather than 7. This serves to make our offer stand out without exposing you to more risk than is smart.

Keeping these 5 crucial tips in mind can make your home buying experience easier to navigate. Being prepared up front can make this less stressful, and prevent you from getting stuck in the mode of just looking at homes online. Please call Theresa at 512-297-3442 to discuss your real estate needs in the Austin area and see if we’d be a fit to work together.

Rocky Creek – Resort Lifestyle in West Austin

512-297-3342 to connect with an agent now

Located in the Hill Country just west of Austin, Rocky Creek is a new home community with homes ranging from $400,000-$800,000.  One of the most unique features of this community is that over 300 acres of natural habitat is set aside for green space, giving the whole area a sense of peacefulness many new home communities simply don’t have.

Truly, it’s hard to beat the resort lifestyle offered in Rocky Creek, with the community pool, miles of hiking and biking trails, and playground.  The homes, built by Taylor Morrison and Drees Custom Homes, are noted for their grand entrances and beautiful finishes. Kitchens with butlers’ pantries and well outfitted media rooms are standard in most of these homes. Many of them feature back patios that are just perfect for entertaining while enjoying hill country views.

Located just a short drive from Hwy 71 and Hamilton Pool Road, you’ll love living so close to the shops at Hill Country Galleria and Whole Foods. If the outdoors interest you more than shopping, nearby Barton Creek Habitat Preserve with over 4,000 acres offers primitive trails just perfect for hiking and enjoying nature. And of course Hamilton Pool Preserve is one of Travis County’s most sought after park experiences.

Rocky Creek is zoned to the exemplary Lake Travis ISD, which has a great tradition of community support for its academics and sports teams. These homes feed to Bee Cave Elementary, Lake Travis Middle School and Lake Travis High School. Go Cavs!

Welcome to 6304 Tasajillo Trail – an exceptional opportunity to own an immaculate home in the desirable gated community of Park West at Circle C Ranch!

View FULL DETAILS and additional PHOTOS here: Home for Sale in Park West at Circle C Ranch!  ((add the hyperlink from our website for the featured listing))

This luxury home features soaring ceilings which allow light and greenbelt views to fill the space.  On the main floor you’ll find two living spaces (one with a fireplace), a guest room, and separate dining room. Family and friends will enjoy gathering around the granite counters in the gourmet kitchen, which also features a professional range, breakfast bar, desk space, eat-in area, and opens to the large deck overlooking the greenbelt. A dedicated office makes working from home - or managing a home - easy. This property allows direct access to the greenbelt – that’s right: you can walk right out of this yard to work out or walk your dog on the walking and jogging trails of the Circle C Metropolitan Park.  At the end of a long day, retreat to your spacious master retreat with a spa bath and private sitting area.The front yard of this home for sale in Park West at Circle C Ranch is completely maintained by the homeowner’s association at no cost to you.  You will also have the benefit of Circle C’s three community pools – one Olympic sized, one with a waterslide for summer fun, and the newest one which features lap lanes and a splash pad. This home for sale in Park West at Circle C is served by a trio of the highest rated schools in Austin: Kiker Elementary, Gorzycki Middle School & Bowie High School.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: Although this property was available at the time of this ad creation, it is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. This ad was created with the intent to sell THIS property. If you are interested in this property, Please call Theresa Bastian 512-297-3442 to check on its current availability.

Search the MLS like a Realtor and never miss the newest listings or the latest price changes. Search using criteria used by Realtors and brokers with multiple photos, satellite images, FULL MLS Descriptions and more. It’s easier than the MLS!  Search listings in Circle C Ranch, Austin and all the surrounding areas in Central Texas at www.LetsMoveAustin.com.