Ready to help your client buy or sell a home in Houston, Texas? Knowing and understanding the latest information on property taxes in the area is wise, as you can help your clients make the right decision when buying or selling a home.
Staying updated on Houston’s property tax rates and regulations will help you further your real estate expertise and earn your client’s trust by proving you’re qualified and ready to help them buy or sell! Excited to learn more? Keep reading for more information on Houston property tax rates in 2022.
Houston property taxes for 2022
Houston is not only the largest city in Texas—with a population of over 2 million people—it’s also the fourth largest city in the U.S.! With attractions such as the Space Center Houston, the largest Fine Arts Museum in the Southwest, and exciting dining options throughout the city, you can understand why Houston is a popular destination for both tourists and those looking to relocate.
While Houston is the largest city in Texas—and an incredibly desirable one at that—the cost of living is relatively affordable. Living in Houston will only cost 2% more than the state average and 6% less than the national average.
How about the housing market? Houston’s housing market is somewhat competitive, with the median home price averaging $305,000 at the end of 2022. This average is unchanged from last year’s prices, a plus for many looking to buy a home in the Houston area. Many homebuyers have property tax rates on their minds as they shop for homes well into 2023.
The city of Houston’s property tax rate for 2022 is 0.533640 per $100 of assessed value. Harris County’s property tax rate is 0.343730. School district tax in the city of Houston is 1.037200. Apart from these, there are several other county-wide taxes applied to homes in the city, depending on where you live.
Will Houston property tax rates rise?
Property tax rates in Houston are determined on January 1 of each year, so the market value of your home on January 1 will determine how much you’ll be paying in property tax on your home each year.
As the average median home price has largely remained the same, it’s unlikely that Houston’s property tax rate will see a huge increase for homeowners and buyers in the coming year.
Tax rates in surrounding areas
If you like the idea of Houston but are looking into surrounding areas, it’s wise to check out the property tax rates of each location before settling on a decision. For reference, here are some neighboring cities near Houston and their property tax rates for 2022:
- Deer Park: 0.720000
- Klein: 0.387000
- Bellaire: 0.4473000
- Katy: 0.44000
What does property tax revenue fund in Houston?
The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector takes care of property taxes in Houston. City officials projected to bring in $1.28 billion in property tax revenue during the 2022-2023 fiscal year, up from $1.23 billion in the previous year.
Your property tax dollars fund many different areas and services needed to keep Houston running smoothly, such as local government expenses, road work, county needs, police, fire protection, and schools. Property tax is the largest source of money used to pay for these things, so this tax is vital to the community.
Important information to know when moving to Houston, TX
Ready to get the ball rolling and move to Houston? There are some important dates and information you should know about when it comes to property taxes:
You can make property tax payments online, by phone, by mail, or in person. The property tax system in Houston has four stages: valuing the taxable property, protesting the values, adopting the tax rates, and then tax collection. Dates for these stages are as follows:
- January 1: The beginning of property appraisals
- January 1 to April 30: Applications for exemptions and tax relief are collected
- May 15: Appraisal review process begins
- September to October: Officials adopt tax rates
- October to November: Tax collection starts as tax bills go out
- January 31: Deadline for you to pay your property taxes for the previous year
- February 1: Penalty and interest charges begin accumulating on delinquent tax bills
Texas law provides exemptions and tax breaks for some citizens, with exemptions for homesteads, active-duty military, and people over 65 or disabled. If you fall under these criteria, it’s worth seeing if you fully qualify for this provision.
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