Looking for a Texas agent. Prefer travis county since that is where I am looking.

What do you assume for property tax rate when estimating monthly costs for buyers?

Thanks,
R

Austin is normally 2.711 for every $100 of value. It depends on the school district since school taxes are factored into property taxes. Eanes and certain school districts are most expensive.

RESOURCES:

1. You can contact the Travis Appraisal District for an explanation of how taxes work. http://www.traviscad.org/

2. Here is the site for property tax research and info. Make sure you read about available exemptions. http://www.traviscountytax.org/goProperties.do

3. Title companies usually have the rates. You just have to know which taxing district affects the property. http://austintitle.com/content/view/51/94/

I use the old investor rule of calcuating 1% for the monthly payment. This usually comes in at plus or minus $100 from the actual total payment.

Ok... cool. Exactly what I needed to know.

I do the same here in California, only I use 1.2% as a ballpark... that usually gets me in at an accurate number to within a hundered or two.

I had heard Texas property taxes were heavier than most.... guess we are still the most taxed out there in Cali tho!

Thanks,
R

Hey...at least property taxes are write-offs, so it helps. With having no state income tax, it's not too bad here.
:-)

Yeah.... something I have been thinking about.

My wife revisits the idea of us moving to Austin from time to time. So I have been putting together cost analysis, listings, etc.

We like the western part of town (probably no surprise there). Lakeway, even Lago Vista on the other side of the lake.

I may want to continue this discussion with you offline.

R

My 2-year plan is to move back to Austin myself.

As for property taxes, Texas is close to changing the tax rate and decreasing property taxes significantly while raising tobacco taxes to make up the difference. Even though I enjoy cigars I'm all for it!

Hey -- with castro kicking off (and his "younger" brother not far from a dirt nap), we might just find we can get good old cubano cigars in the states again!


R

In many locations in Texas the appraised value is about 10 to 20 percent below the market. Also don't forget to account for the homestead exemption of $10,000 evaluation or, in Travis $271 per year.

I wish my tax rate was that low. Mine are 3.33697 per $100 of value.

Here, it's all about the MUD district. That accounts for almost .78 of my taxes.

My taxes are .45% of the market value. ($1,260, $280,000)

HMMM isn't the homestead exemption amount $15,000?

Zesty