Here is a recap of our June 1st Business Network Breakfast with Steve Atchison, Associate Chief Appraiser of Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD), speaking on the commercial property appraisal process.
Key Points from the Presentation:
- HCAD is a political subagency of the State of Texas.
- Its purpose is to use market values to create appraisal rolls for the 550 jurisdictions in the County and to administer and apply property tax exemptions.
- Low interest rates, high demand and low supply of single-family housing has pushed market values.
- Each January 1st, HCAD looks back at market values – actual sales prices, replacement costs, and income for income-producing properties – to make valuations. For commercial properties, HCAD looks at the past 2 years’ data.
- Notice and deadline dates are set legislatively.
- In protest hearings, the goal is for valuations to be fair and to make sense.
- Protest hearing members are not HCAD employees and may not have real estate experiences; HCAD employees are prohibited from discussing cases with them.
- To be successful in a protest hearing, have a good idea of the property’s worth and argue from there.
- HCAD is governed by a Board of Directors and the Comptroller of Public Accounts performs bi-annual studies of the appraisal process and of compliance with procedures.
Watch the Presentation:
From the Near Northwest Management District:
- The W Little York Pedestrian Improvements Project repairs are mostly complete for the damages due to utility installations.
- The W Tidwell Pedestrian Improvements project’s designs are 90% design completion and will soon be posted for bids. This will replace sidewalks from Antoine to TC Jester and create a welcoming gateway to the White Oak Bike Trail.
- We have completed designs for intersection improvements at Bingle and W Tidwell. This should go into construction later this year.
- C-DAB – Crime Deterrence for Apartments and Businesses – is our newest public gathering. Each month, we host law enforcement, commercial property owners and business owners or managers to meet to discuss areas of interest and concern. Please feel free to join us for that meeting.
- The Business Directory Map has been updated and is available in print and online version to find local businesses to support!
- The next Business Network Breakfast on September 7th will be a mayoral candidates forum.
- The annual National Night Out will be on Tuesday, October 3rd. Contact Walter Funes to sign up to participate.
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