April 17th 2008 article in the San Antonio Express-News on the Bexar County Appraisal District

On Thursday after having seen my property appraisal for 2008, I accessed the Multiple Listings Service (MLS) and confirmed the same information I've been working with for quite some time now: the appraisal district's data is blatantly inaccurate. I'm a REALTOR^® and a trained statistician. Here's what I found: out of 20 homes that sold in the subdivision I chose, 19 appraisals didn't match the sale price of the property, and 1 appraisal wasn't posted by the appraisal district. So if you only count the 19 available records, we have 100% error. Some appraisals were over the sale price and some were under.

Bexar County Appraisal District computers access MLS records, so when I go protest my appraisal, I look at the appraiser's screen and see the same numbers I researched in MLS to prepare for the hearing. Since accurate information is available, why did I find 100% error? How can appraisals be calculated correctly and fairly if the calculations aren't performed using accurate data? Clearly something isn't functioning properly, and some property owners in Bexar County are carrying an unfair burden. (You can find more compelling data on my website.)

If you're unhappy with your appraisal, you're allowed to protest it; you'll receive all the forms and information you need along with your appraisal. Contact a San Antonio REALTOR® to help you find out what properties sold for in your subdivision, and use that information at the hearing. It would be to your advantage to protest. I meet quite a few people who are under the impression that their property would lose value if they had their appraisal lowered, but the MARKET determines what your property is worth, not the county appraiser.