Property appraisal values aren’t final: how you can protest your home’s appraised value

EL PASO, Texas – With property values on the rise, the Central Appraisal District is mailing notices of changes to owner's property values.

That means you may see an increase in the value of your home or business, which could lead to an increase in your property taxes.

"We're trying to make ends meet. Water, gas, everything going up, and then the taxes, it's ridiculous," said Fabiola Nevarez.

"There was quite a big increase from last year to this year, so I came to see what can be done about it to protest," said Omar Cordova

Many homeowners told me this was their first time filing an appeal, and they didn't know what to expect.

"Before, I was kind of afraid of the process, thinking it gonna be too time-consuming or too much of a hassle, but it's actually quite simple," said Joseph Brennan

Many appealed in person but a protest can also be filed online.

You can click the link here to epcad.org to go directly to the application

Dinah Kilgore, Chief Appraiser at the Central Appraisal District, suggests homeowners also apply for a Homestead Exemption for their primary residence. You can click here to be taken directly to the form. 

Juan Baltazar is a new homeowner. He's owned his home for just over two years. He says his appraisal value went up over eighty-five thousand dollars.

"I kinda feel kind of blindsided because I'm a first-time owner, so it's kind of a lot of things that you need to navigate and you need to learn and it's kinda coming from left field out of nowhere."

Many residents who showed up today were hopeful they could get their appraisal reduced but were 

"I'll know and have some satisfaction that I did what I needed to do and at least try to drop it down," said Joseph Brennan

An open records request we filed showed nearly 75% of residents who appealed their appraisal value last year did receive a reduction, so cad encourages homeowners to apply.