How this actually works
The statutes, the deadlines, and the arguments that move a number. Written for people who would rather understand the process than be reassured about it.
What "Uniform and Equal" Means — and Why It Wins Protests
Most homeowners argue market value and lose. The stronger argument is that your neighbors with the same house are assessed for less — and Texas law says that alone is grounds for a reduction.
The May 15th Deadline: What Happens If You Miss It
Texas gives you until May 15th (or 30 days after your notice, whichever is later) to protest. Here is what your options actually are once that date passes.
We Analyzed 2,400 DFW Protests. Here Is What Moved the Number.
Condition evidence beat comp selection more often than we expected. A breakdown of which arguments produced the largest reductions, by county.
Can Protesting Raise My Appraised Value?
The single most common reason homeowners never file. The short answer is no — and here is the statute that says so.
The 10% Homestead Cap: Why a Lower Market Value Might Not Move Your Bill
Your notice carries two different numbers for a homestead, and they are easy to conflate. Section 23.23 of the Tax Code explains why winning a market-value argument can still leave the bill exactly where it was.
How to Read a DFW Notice of Appraised Value — Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant
The fields, the dates, and the online filing portal for each of the four counties Quant Labs covers — and what to do with the notice in the first two days after it arrives.
Informal Meeting or ARB Hearing: What Each One Actually Involves
A protest resolves in one of two ways: a signed agreement with the appraisal district, or a sworn hearing before the Appraisal Review Board. They are not the same process, and confusing them costs homeowners the stronger of the two.
A DFW Homeowner's Pre-Season Checklist: September Through March
Notices start arriving the first week of April and the clock is already running by the time most homeowners open one. Everything on this list is easier to do now, months before the deadline is visible on a calendar.