Harris Co. releases detailed map of home values

HOUSTON

Overall, property values in Harris County went down for a second year, the value overall dropping $3 billion. It means most homeowners will not see an increase and already cash strapped cities and school districts will see less.

In some areas of Harris County, the property rates are going up, like the homes built along interstate ten west of the Loop. In other places, like Alief, the property values are going down.

But the vast majority of Harris County residents are seeing no change in the values.

For some, the declines are not good news.

"Sales are really, kind of slow, but they do eventually get sold somehow," one resident said.

Officials with the Harris County Appraisal District say overall, the declining property value wipes away $3 billion in property tax collections.

The city of Houston will lose about one percent of its taxable value and HISD will lost just under one percent.

For cash-strapped cities and school districts, that is bad news.

"Those jurisdictions are now experiences, in most cases, their second year of decline and it means that they got some serious budget issues, and particularly for school districts," Harris County Chief Appraiser Jim Robinson said.

Robinson says the yellow on the map shows areas seeing no increase, areas in red are seeing increases and areas in green decreases. The map also shows new construction in purple. There's just a not a lot of it.

"It is just striking to me that in the absence of new construction and new subdivisions which means a lot of people that would have been employed and would have been putting money into the economy are not," Robinson said.

If you want to protest your property value, there are two important dates you need to keep in mind. The first deadline for homeowners to file a protest is May 2. If you miss it, don't worry. Tthe next deadline for all property owners is May 31 and that includes homeowners, too.