"Property taxes are a thing. They are very high. That's by design because of how we don't have a state income tax," Jennifer Chang, senior director of digital experimentation and innovation at the Houston Chronicle, said.
ABC News and 13 Investigates found that many homeowners in Houston and across the country pay higher taxes for every $100,000 of their home's value.
13 INVESTIGATES: How property tax disparities impact Houston homeowners
The amount you pay depends on your home's value. To help explain the data, Chang and the Houston Chronicle team created an AI-assisted tool called TX TAX.
"In the tool, you look up your address, and it basically lets you know whether your property is fairly appraised," Chang said. "So we tell you upfront, this isn't worth it, if your property is fairly appraised. Or we tell you, your property, looking at other comparables by the appraisal district, is actually valued 'X' amount lower or 'X' amount higher."
Currently, the tool is available in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. You can search your address for free, but there is a fee to see comparable properties nearby.
Chang says the goal is to help homeowners better understand the value of their property.
"Sometimes people are unnecessarily upset at the appraisal district. They don't do anything to set the tax rate; all they do is appraisals," Chang said. "So all this is, is bringing information to people that want it, trying to fill a need when there's a lot of interest in it."
While these do-it-yourself tools are helpful, the Houston Association of Realtors recommends also working with a professional.
"They are also going to understand other facets of budgeting, like what we are going to be paying for, what we are not," Kat Robinson, Chair Elect for HAR, said.
This way, when your property tax bill arrives, you won't be surprised.
"I think it's a good idea, because as a property owner, it'll help me fight the taxes to say 'hey, these are the comparable prices and your increases are not that good,'" Rajesh Garga, homeowner, said.
The tool is a paid service offered by the Houston Chronicle. Challenging your property taxes is free if you go directly to the county. The tool is now also available in Travis, Bexar, and Dallas counties.