How to Lower Your Texas Property Taxes

In Brazoria County, the property tax system relies on a clear division of duties where Chief Appraiser Marcel Perel's office determines property valuations and Tax Assessor-Collector Kristen's office calculates and collects taxes based on rates set by local jurisdictions. Because local entities set those tax rates, rising property valuations do not automatically result in higher tax bills, highlighting the importance of citizen participation in both value protests and local budget hearings. To ensure tax benefits are reserved strictly for eligible principal residences, Texas law now mandates that appraisal districts audit homestead exemptions at least once every five tax years. When disputing valuations, homeowners can achieve strong results by submitting property-specific evidence—such as photographs of damage and repair estimates—before the May 15th protest deadline. Finally, while hiring professional consultants offers convenience, protesting independently allows owners to leverage their unique property knowledge instead of becoming an "anonymous row on a spreadsheet" represented by large third-party firms.Created by Adriana Perez, REALTOR®, Texas real estate sales agent, License No. 829146, sponsored by Surge Realty. 409.927.0881This podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, lending, insurance, inspection, engineering, investment, or other professional advice. Real estate laws, market conditions, programs, rates, property information, and eligibility requirements may change and vary by person, property, and location.Listeners should independently verify all information and consult the appropriate licensed professionals before making real estate or financial decisions. Listening to this podcast does not create a broker-client, agent-client, fiduciary, or other professional relationship.Some voices or conversational elements may be AI-generated from content researched and curated by Adriana Perez. Equal Housing Opportunity.