Homeowners question appraisal process

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Most homeowners want our property values to be high. But they don't want to pay too much in taxes.

And a KXAN investigation shows the process may not be an exact science and some say your home value depends on where you live. Others think it may be where you work.

Heritage Oaks is like many neighborhoods in Williamson County.  With its beautiful homes, manicured lawns, iIt’s the epitome of simple suburban living in Central Texas. 

Bill Deal and Ollie Regan are neighbors who recently retired to Heritage Oaks. They now share a common problem: when it comes to the yearly appraisal of their homes, they never know what to expect from the Williamson Central Appraisal District.

“The first time I got it (his property appraisal), it was well over the purchase price,” said Bill Deal.  “The next year they went up some $27,000."

In 2012, Deal's house was appraised at 110 percent of what he paid for it in 2010. So he protested with Williamson Central Appraisal District’s Appraisal Review Board.

Did he win?

 “No," Deal replied. "You don't win with Willamson CAD.”

When Ollie Regan's land value jumped $15,600 he, too, protested with WCAD.   

“What I really got was a stonewall,” said Regan.

The Willamson Central Appraisal District set the Regan’s appraised value at $293,500. Three of his Heritage Oaks neighbors have homes with similar floor plans, similar lot sizes, and were built in the same year. But those homes are all valued at $55,000.00 less than Regan’s. 

When he protested and presented this comparison, he lost.

 “It was kind of like, ‘we don't care what you think or what you've got for data, we've got our minds made-up,'” Regan said, describing of the appraisal review process.

Every one of the houses in Deal’s and Regan’s neighborhood were built by the same homebuilder. Many have the similar specs, square footage, and lot sizes.  But according to the Williamson Central Appraisal District, one side of the neighborhood is upscale and the other is not. 

“As the neighborhood progresses in growth, there are different areas that sell for more or less than others,” explained Alvin Lankford, chief appraiser for the Williamson Central Appraisal District.

Lankford is in charge of setting the appraisals for 182,000 properties in Williamson County every year. He admits it's nearly impossible to please everyone.

“We look at the quality level and construction of the home,” Lankford told KXAN.  “We look at the size of the home, the condition, if it’s an older home, have they maintained the home?” He continued. 

Lankford also points out Texas law provides that the appraisal process and the taxing process are separate functions.  But the reality is - the higher your appraised value, the higher your taxes. Still, Lankford insists that jacking up appraisals with the intent to ultimately collect higher taxes simply does not happen.

“Regardless of what the tax units need to collect in the way of taxes, it does not influence the amount of the appraisal,” Lankford said. “The market itself is the only thing that influences the amount of the appraisal.”

C.R. Dansby has a different concern.  Dansby is an 80-year old retired engineer.  When Dansby’s appraisal went up $104,000.00 in 2008, he quickly learned about Williamson County appraisals.

Dansby says he protests his appraisal every year and every year he hears something new.

“In other words, they have an answer for everything you come up with,” said Dansby.  “Whether it’s good or not, I don't know.”

But what Dansby does know is that 11 of the 12 homes on his street have had increased valuations over the last 10 years. 

However one home, 17 years newer than Dansby's and just three doors down has actually dropped in appraisal value over the past 10 years. It dropped $8,631 from last year’s appraisal to $265,630 in 2012. That home is owned by a WCAD Commercial Appraiser who's married to a WCAD administrative director.

Lankford said the reason the WCAD employees’ home is the only one to see a decrease in value is because it’s the only one of all of the homes not to have additions or improvements made over the past decade. 

KXAN checked for appraisals for all Williamson Central Appraisal District employees. At least 18 of WCAD’s 60 employees either do not own a home or live in Williamson County.  Of the remaining 42 employees, 29 of them have seen their property appraisals drop this year, some by as much as 14 percent. 

“There's methodologies behind our appraisals and our employees are subject to those same methodologies,” explained Lankford.  “Therefore their values should do similar things as their surrounding neighbors,” he continued. 

But Heritage Oaks residents say they’d simply like to understand that methodology and get a fair assessment. 

“It may not be a price I like to pay but if it’s a price that's fair I'm more than happy to do it,” said Ollie Regan. 

Lankford insists higher property appraisals are not his goal. He says WCAD focuses on accurate appraisals.