Did your property tax bill go up this year?

#1 MUD and PID Districts

If you live in a newer neighborhood, there's a good chance you're in a Municipal Utility District (MUD) or Public Improvement District (PID). These are extra tax layers added on top of your regular city and county taxes. They pay for roads, water, and other infrastructure in newer developments. The cost? An extra $3,000 to $5,000 per year for many homeowners. Most people don't find out until after they move in.

#2 Your Home's Appraised Value Goes Up

Every year, your county appraisal district can raise the value of your home — and when your value goes up, so does your tax bill. The good news is you can protest that value. In Texas, homeowners who protest have an 80 to 91 percent success rate. It's free to do and can save you hundreds of dollars a year. I walk through exactly how to do it in the video below.

#3 School Bond Elections

When your local school district passes a bond, it gets paid for through your property taxes. Prosper ISD recently passed a $2.1 billion bond. Frisco ISD passed a $691 million bond. These are big numbers — and they get spread across every homeowner in the district. It doesn't mean the bonds are bad, but it does mean your taxes go up as a result.

#4 Home Improvements

Adding a pool? Finishing a garage? Remodeling your kitchen? All of those improvements increase the value of your home — and that means your appraisal district will likely raise your taxable value. Before you start a big project, it's worth understanding what it could do to your annual tax bill.

#5 Your Neighbor's Home Sale

This one surprises a lot of people. When homes in your neighborhood sell for a high price, the appraisal district uses those sales as comparables to raise the value of nearby homes — including yours. Even if you didn't sell, you could see your taxes go up because your neighbor did.

How to Fight Back

You don't have to just accept a higher tax bill. Here are 4 steps to protest your property taxes in Texas:

Step 1 — Check your appraisal notice as soon as it arrives in the mail.

Step 2 — Gather evidence. Look at what similar homes in your area have sold for.

Step 3 — File a protest with your county appraisal district before the deadline (usually May 15).

Step 4 — Show up to your hearing or submit your evidence online.

It costs nothing to protest. And with an 80 to 91 percent success rate in Texas, it's worth the time.

Watch the Full Video

I put together a short video that covers all 5 of these in detail — including 2026 tax rates for Frisco, Prosper, Celina, and McKinney. Watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2qTirKtPfg

Need Help? I've Got You.

Whether you're buying a home and want to know what your taxes will actually be, selling a home and want top dollar, or you need help understanding and protesting your property taxes — I'm here.

Reply to this post, call or text me at 469-829-7713, or comment "TAX BREAKDOWN" on the video and I'll send you a free breakdown of your specific taxes and what you might be able to lower.

Troy Sage Real Estate Differently 469-829-7713 | Troy@TroySage.com