I'll admit it, we are eager to move. I discovered yesterday that we are not the only ones who are eager. In yesterday's mail, I received a new notification from Blanco County of my tax appraisal for 2023. The taxing authority figuratively went for broke. Actually, I'll be the one that is broke when I pay the taxes.
I actually didn't see the amended tax statement coming. Building this house is not my first rodeo, and I've never been taxed for anything other than the land I was building on until the calendar year after construction was completed. Trust me, the house is closer to being finished than it has ever been. But close doesn't count. The appraised value for the calendar year always had a relationship to what was in place on January 1st. At least, that has been my understand up until now.
You also can't file for homestead exemption until your home is completed and occupied. I know that only because I called the tax office in 2022 to ask.
I also chose not to volunarily answer the taxing office's request that I tell them what I paid for the home? Are you kidding me? God as my witness, they actually asked if I'd miind telling them the purchase price. They added that doing so was not a requirement.
As most know, last year saw the highest appraised values for real estate hitting the market than ever before. Trust me, I am skilled at buying when it is a seller's market. The thing about the market, is that it doesn't last.
I plan to visit the tax office next week. Rest assured, I will protest the tax statement for 2023. I'm also curious as to how the tax office came up with the appraised value without looking at the contract I signed with the builder. The amount is identical.
Could I get that in the reduced market for today? Not on your life. I figure resell isn't really an issue for me. My kids can worry about that. In the housing market, this is our last rodeo.
Long story short, the appraised value cannot be disputed for 2024, but it isn't even close for a home that is uninhabitable. I'd say it is close, but no cigar. I'm protesting the appraisal for 2023.
"Close, but no cigar" dates back to the 1920s when carnivals would hand out cigars as prizes. The games were targeted at adults, not children. Carnival games were difficult to win, and the stand owner would shout out, "Close but not cigar" when the target was missed.
All My Best!
Don
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