If you live in Central Texas and your property taxes just went up…you’re not alone.

Every year, homeowners open that notice and think:
👉 “There is NO way my house is worth that.”

So let’s talk about it—because the County Appraisal District (CAD) is one of the most misunderstood parts of homeownership in Texas.

What Is the County Appraisal District (CAD)?

Your local County Appraisal District (CAD) is responsible for:

Determining your home’s taxable value
Using market data to reassess values each year
Sending out those lovely notices that make everyone panic

👉 Important:
This value is used for tax purposes only

CAD Value vs. Market Value (They Are NOT the Same)

This is where most confusion happens.

Market Value = what your home could realistically sell for
CAD Value = what the county uses to calculate your taxes

👉 And those two numbers? They don’t always match. The value assigned by the County Appraisal District is not valued by an appraiser, rather with algorithms and data

Texas Is a Non-Disclosure State (Read This Carefully 👀)

In Texas, we are a non-disclosure state.

That means:
👉 Home sale prices are NOT public record

So when CAD is estimating values:

They do NOT have full access to actual sold prices
They’re working off data, trends, and estimates

Be Careful: Don’t Give Away Your Sales Price

After you buy a home, you may:

Receive postcards
Get letters asking for your sales price
See requests when filing your homestead exemption

👉 You are NOT required to provide that information

And honestly? You probably shouldn’t.

Why?

It can be used to justify higher property values
It impacts not just you—but your neighbors too

Why I Don’t Provide Sold Data Either

As a REALTOR®, I’m also limited here.

Sharing sold data publicly goes against MLS rules
It’s not fair to other homeowners
It can directly impact property taxes in your area

👉 So when I say “mum’s the word”…I mean it 😅

Why Did My Property Value Go Up?

Even if you didn’t renovate or change anything, your value can increase due to:

Market appreciation
Nearby home sales
Area growth and demand

👉 CAD uses mass data, not individual home inspections

No—CAD Is NOT Coming Inside Your House

I hear this all the time:

“Are they going to come inside and appraise my home?”

👉 No.

CAD:

Does NOT do full interior walkthroughs
Does NOT appraise like a lender’s appraiser

They:

Use public data
Look at general property details
Apply broad valuation models

Appraiser vs. CAD (Big Difference)

Let’s clear this up:

Appraiser (for buying/selling)

Comes inside your home
Evaluates condition and upgrades
Uses specific comparable sales

CAD

Does NOT enter your home
Uses general data + trends
Assigns value for taxation

👉 Two totally different roles

Can You Protest Your Property Taxes? YES.

If you disagree with your CAD value—you can protest it.

And you should at least review it every year. If your County Appraisal District value feels off, you have the right to formally protest it.

Don’t Want to Deal With It? There Are Companies for That

If you don’t want the hassle:

👉 There are legitimate companies that will:

Protest your property taxes for you
Handle the process
Charge a small fee (often based on savings)

This can be a great option if you:

Don’t have time
Don’t want to deal with paperwork
Just want someone else to handle it

What About Homestead Exemptions? (Don’t Skip This)

If this is your primary residence:

👉 File your homestead exemption

Benefits:

Reduces taxable value
Caps annual increases (10% max in most cases)

But again—be mindful of what information you provide.

Why This Matters for Buyers and Sellers

Buyers:

Your property taxes impact your monthly payment

Sellers:

Your tax value can influence how buyers perceive affordability

My Advice as a Central Texas REALTOR®

✔ Don’t panic when you get your notice
✔ Don’t automatically assume it’s accurate
✔ Don’t give away your purchase price unnecessarily
✔ Do review your value every year
✔ Do consider protesting if needed

Final Thoughts

The County Appraisal District isn’t the enemy—but it’s also not perfect.

👉 It’s a system based on estimates, not exact numbers.

The more you understand it, the more control you have over what you pay.

Check out the CAD Website for yourself:

If you live in Bell County: bellcad.org and If you live in Milam County: Milamcad.org

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!