How does HCAD Over-Assess 25 Houses in Zip Code

Since the property taxes are paid by the mortgage company for most home owners, the pain point for the home owner is about one year too late. When they receive the notice their monthly payment is increasing by $100 or $200 or more per month, the appeal deadline has likely passed. The property tax appeal deadline in Texas is May 31, or the following workday if May 31 is on a weekend.

The mortgage payment will not likely be increased until after the current year taxes are paid. For example, if your home is grossly over-assessed in 2014, the monthly payment will likely be adjusted in the Spring of 2015. But the deadline to protest your 2014 property taxes is May 31 (actually June 2 since May 31 is on a weekend). Hence, the deadline occurs almost a year before the home owner learns there is a problem.

There is really no meaningful relationship between the methodical work done by an independent fee appraiser and an appraisal district appraiser. The fee appraiser typically inspects and measures the subject property, so he has accurate data. He also personally visits each of the comparable sales to see if they are really comparable.

Texas law requires property owners to file a property tax protest to be able to obtain the evidence regarding their house. Protest both market value and unequal appraisal and include a note asking the appraisal district to make their evidence available two weeks prior to the hearing. The protest form is available at http://www.poconnor.com/pdf_forms/41-44.pdf

In many cases, given the large number of substantial errors in valuing houses, the appraisal district’s evidence will clearly show the property is over-assessed. It is critical that you protest prior to May 31, or you will not be able to get the information and determine if you are taxed fairly. Since over 200,000 houses in Harris County are over-taxed by at least 10%, encourage your family and friends to protest, so they at least get to see the appraisal districts evidence.

After you protest and obtain the appraisal district’s information, one of the first priorities is to see if their evidence is accurate for your house. Then check to see if the sales data is accurate.

The data used for analysis was all sales of houses in Harris County that occurred during October 1 2013 to March 31 2014, for which we had a purchase price and a 2014 HCAD market value. The only records that were eliminated were those where there was a major discrepancy between the Realtor MLS data and the HCAD tax roll regarding the size of the land and / or building. Stated differently, this analysis includes all sales except those for which complete information was not available.

Proven DIY Back Pain Tips

Oftentimes when a person who is suffering from back pain consults with an orthpedic doctor, they only receive simple advice such as get more rest and perhaps take some medication. If back pain is an issue for you, you may find some solace in the DIY tips provided below.

Drink a half gallon of water a day. A proper diet does a lot of things for you, and prevention of back pain is on that list. Not only can you get a healthier body, but you can take some pressure off of your back and help it significantly.

Avoid lifting items that are out of your reach. People tend to take shortcuts daily that can have negative effects on their backs. When you are far away from an object that you are reaching for, get as close as you can. You will also want to take some time to execute things in the right way.

Wear comfortable low-heeled shoes. The stress that high-heeled shoes put on your ankles and legs is transmitted up your body all the way to your hips and spine. Comfortable shoes will allow you to stand and walk more naturally, which can greatly reduce your incidence of back pain the next morning.

Back pain got you down get up and move. Sitting still or lying down will cause your muscles to stiffen and tighten up. Although you shouldn’t twist or turn try doing some safe exercises at least 15 minutes a day; consult your doctor to see what exercisers are safe for you and your back.

In order to reduce back pain, learn how to relax. This is much different from resting. Resting is simply taking pressure away physically, relaxing is relieving the tension and stress mentally. Try closing your eyes and thinking of happy and non-stressful things to help relieve the overall tension in your body.

Try sleeping on your side and place a pillow between your knees to help relieve and prevent back pain. The pillow between your knees will help keep you spine straight while you are sleeping so you can wake up feeling refreshed instead of sore. Consider buying a body-sized pillow for this purpose.

In some cases, back pain sufferers find that acupuncture is a good treatment for their ailment. The jury is still out on acupuncture, and it might be a little too pricy depending on how available it is in your area, but thousands of back pain sufferers swear by the results of the needles.

If you have chronic back pain and cannot figure out how to get rid of it, perhaps a new chair is in order, like a recliner or something softer than what you’re sitting on now. A lot of people think that firm support is a must, but that’s more to prevent pain. If you need to relieve it, go with something soft.

The type of shoes you wear can help to alleviate back pain, so try to get some of those comfort cushioned shoe soles to help out. Those types of soles with the gel inside of them are a great pick. If those are a little too pricy for you, just try a pair of shoes that are more comfortable for you to wear.

As a back pain sufferer, a little bit of pain may actually make you feel better, so do not be afraid to exercise. The reason you feel pain is because the muscles are sore and stiff. If you can work through this and loosen the muscles up, you can do light exercise and help to get rid of the pain.

Back pain is a factor that can affect everything you do in a day. These tips can help you deal with the reality of back pain so you can keep going and be able to live life.

DIY Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis is no longer a disease that only effects the elderly population. There are many young people today that are suffering from this. Read this article to learn more about arthritis and be knowledgeable about what you can do if you or a loved one are dealing with this. Use these DIY arthritis pain relief tips in a hopeful attempt not require orthopedic surgery at some point.

Women who suffer from arthritis should not wear high heels. While they may be attractive, high heels can be damaging to your body. This can increase torque at the knees and exasperate arthritis symptoms. You can keep you arthritic pain at a minimum by wearing comfortable shoes. Make your health a priority over style.

For arthritis sufferers, it is important to lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Excess weight just puts more strain and pressure on your arthritic joints, which can make your arthritis even worse. It is a proven fact that every pound you lose is four less pounds of pressure on your knees.

If you have arthritis, consider taking part in aquatic activities. Aquatic therapy carefully practiced in warm water is gentle on the joints and muscles which can be a soothing way to exercise while lessoning the pain of arthritis flare-ups. Ask your doctor if there a warm water therapy program could be helpful for you.

It is important that you get the flu shot if you suffer from arthritis. Just like with many other chronic illnesses, arthritis symptoms will get much worse if you get the flu and could even land you in the hospital. The flu shot is a simple shot that you only have to get once a year.

The right type of exercise is crucial. Not only does exercise keep your body in its best shape, it also builds up your overall flexibility. Low impact exercises can prevent your joints from becoming inflamed, but you have to take care not to overexert yourself. The moment you begin to experience pain, you should stop.

You may want to consider using fish oil if you suffer from arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids, which come from fish oil, are effective in treating joint pain and inflammation. Many supermarkets, and any vitamin/supplement stores, will carry fish oil.

If you suffer from arthritis and you are going to exercise, be sure that you spend enough time stretching before you begin your workout routine. By jumping right into exercising, you are not giving your joints the stretching that they need so that they do not flare up and cause pain.

Surgery is not always the only solution to controlling the pain and swelling in your arthritic knees. Instead, try using a knee brace to see if it makes a difference first. Surgery should be the last resort, and knee braces have been proven to alleviate pain and reduce swelling. It is even possible to sleep while wearing a knee brace.

The sooner you speak to a professional about the issue, the sooner you can start treatment, which will be beneficial for you in the end. You will be able to slow the damage to all of your joints that arthritis causes if you get a good head start with treatment. Your best bet is to get specialized advice and start a treatment program as soon as you receive a diagnosis.

Do not be afraid to consider surgery. Many people who suffer with arthritis will initially balk at the thought of having surgery done to correct an issue. Let your doctor coach you on what may be the best method of treatment for you, and if surgery is an effective option, try not to immediately dismiss it.

You have learned at the beginning of this article that arthritis can affect anyone at any age. It is important that if you are suffering from this that you are aware of everything that is related to it, and what you can do to help make yourself feel better on a day to day basis.