Central Texas Real Estate Blog

Texas Property Tax Appeals

What to Do If You Think Your Texas Property Tax Appraisal is Unfair

Many homeowners in Central Texas have suffered from “sticker shock” when receiving their 2022 tax appraisals.  In Travis County, many properties in certain areas have appraised for up to 42%-50% more than in previous years. If you as a property owner disagree with the amount that your property appraised for, it makes sense to file a dispute and have the appraisal evaluated by the Appraisal Review Board in your county. This year, the filing deadline was May 16th.

Reasons to Protest Your Texas Property Tax Appraisal

Some of the reasons a property owner in Central Texas may choose to dispute their property tax bill are if they believe that the property was unequally compared,…

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Who, What, and When of Texas Property Taxes

Texas has over 4,100 local governments that assess and collect tax dollars from home and property owners that live in their jurisdictions. You pay taxes to school districts, city and county governments and probably some special districts such as water, hospital and sometimes to a junior college.

Each of these taxing units has a governing body that determines the amount of taxes they want to make their budgets and they set their own tax rates. Most of these local government entities contract with the county tax-assessor collector to collect their taxes for them.

With this information in mind, it behooves the Texas home and property owner to know where their money is going and what the budgets are for the taxing units in their local community.…

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Texas Property Taxes Help

One of the hottest topics being discussed right now in the Austin area is Texas property taxes. It can be confusing and frustrating for homeowners who are trying to navigate their finances in this economy. To try to help our friends and neighbors make sense of the Texas property tax system, the Crawford Realty Group will be offering a series of informational blog posts to help us all gain a better understanding of what it is, how it works and solutions for those who need help with their property taxes. Whether you already own a home or are planning to buy a home in the Austin area, this series in for you!

One thing to be aware of is that the State of Texas does not have a property tax. All taxes are determined and collected by local governments…

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Getting Your Texas Hill Country Home Ready for Winter

As the summer months fade Into autumn, residents of the Texas Hill Country begin to prepare their homes for winter. The residents of homes in Bee Cave, Lakeway, Spicewood, Horseshoe Bay, Marble Falls and their neighbors usually enjoy a moderate climate year-round. Only half of the winter nights are 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, with an average of 12 nights between December and March having freezing temperatures. But the weather in Texas does occasionally have some pretty impressive extremes. In January of 2018 an arctic front moved through the Texas Hill Country with plenty of freezing rain, sleet, and general wintry mix that did accumulate. Fortunately, all it amounted to was a really cold week. If homeowners do not prepare their home for winter,…

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Take it Out at the Ballgame with Round Rock Express

History

The Express, a highly-valued, Triple-A minor league baseball team, has been a major part of Round Rock in recent history. The team started out in Ogden, Utah in 1979, before moving to Edmonton, Alberta two seasons later. They then played in Canada for 24 years before moving to Round Rock in 2005. In the time since their formation, they have won 11 division titles, two conference titles, and four league titles; their most recent postseason title being won in 2015. Some notable baseball figures have come out of the Round Rock Express as well, such as Roger “Rocket” Clemens, a pitcher in the MLB between 1984 and 2007 and holds the record for third-highest number of strikeouts of all time.

Hometown Proud

The Round Rock Express enjoys…

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Waterside Dining Around Lake Travis

Finding a good place to enjoy a meal on the shores of Lake Travis is not a difficult task. There are many unique eateries offering delicious food served lakeside in the Texas Hill Country. In addition to a memorable outdoor dining experience and good food, many offer live music and boat access.

The Oasis located at 6550 Comanche Trail in Austin is not only considered the sunset capital of Texas it is also the largest outdoor restaurant in the state. Viewing Texas sunsets from a cliffside vantage point  450 feet above Lake Travis, people dining at The Oasis can guarantee getting beautiful pictures. This location is perfect for an intimate dinner for two or a larger party of 2500. From a quiet dinner to a corporate conference, the Oasis provides a…

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5 Easy Tips to Create Curb Appeal

One of the best ways to get a home buyer interested in the inside of your home is to create an irresistible outside. Your house is its own best marketing tool when you dress it up to look its best, because first impressions matter. How the home buyer feels when they stand on the front porch for the first time will affect the offer and final price of the home sale.

You need not do a radical makeover when creating curb appeal before putting your house on the market. For a small investment of time and money, you can add to the value of your home and shorten the time it is on the market.

Tip #1 Update the Entry Way

Start by cleaning up smudges and cobwebs, sweeping the porch and washing the glass on windows and light fixtures. Add a new welcome…

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Texas Hill Country Swimming Holes --a Beautiful Way to Beat the Summer Heat

There are many beautiful places to cool off and enjoy a great day in the water with family and friends in the Austin area. Spring fed swimming holes can be found from right in the city of Austin to the outlying rural areas. This part of Texas Hill Country offers majestic scenery, plenty of shade and a variety of cool and natural swimming holes.

Barton Springs Pool is located in Zilker Park at 2201 Barton Springs Road in Austin. from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily during the months from May to September. It is closed on Thursdays for maintenance. Admission cost varies depending on age and residency visitors.

Often referred to as the soul of Austin, Barton Springs was believed to have spiritual healing powers by the Native Americans. This 3-acre pool was…

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How to Win the Battle Against Texas Hill Country Fleas and Ticks

One of the only drawbacks to the amazing weather here in the beautiful Texas Hill Country is that there is not a “flea and tick season” for pet owners to deal with, it is a year-round battle! Not only do these parasites cause itchy allergic reactions, they spread disease and can act as vectors for internal parasites. Flea and tick control is a part of owning a pet here in Texas, but in just a few minutes each day you can save time, money and keep your pets and household healthy. By using the tips below you can eliminate fleas and ticks from your home in Marble Falls, Burnet, Lakeway and surrounding areas!

Chemical Flea and Tick Products

Texas fleas have often been called “super-fleas”. Many pet owners report that the over-the-counter flea…

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Making Your Backyard the Coolest Spot in Town

Outdoor barbeques are a big part of Texas culture. Whether you are new to the Austin and Lakeway real estate area or just looking for a home to grow in, Crawford Realty Group can help you find the perfect back yard for a BBQ.  Enjoying good food, a cold beverage and the company of friends and neighbors becomes a way of life in the summertime. Beating the Texas heat can be a real challenge when hosting a backyard dinner, but here are a few tips to keep your family, guests and even your dog a little more comfortable.

Shady Business

Creating as much shade as possible is the first line of defense against the Texas heat. Even if you have a covered patio, additional shady places help cool the area and provide more inviting gathering spaces. There are…

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