We're always looking for more ways to learn about our great city, so why not start at home? Not only is it interesting to know about the plat upon which you live, but it can also help to paint part of the picture of Houston's interesting, albeit short history, and there are quite a few on and offline resources to help with research. An easy way to start is to find the specific name of...
Results tagged “harriscountyappraisaldistrict”
Did you protest the taxes on your home this past year? If so, we hope you did your research on your neighbors’ appraisals already. If you didn’t, you’re out of luck. Thanks to a new law passed by the state, the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) was forced to pull their property appraisal database from their website this week. Don't get out your walking shoes yet – the information can't be obtained from the county...
More on yesterday's news that Metro is now in the business of land investing: According to county tax officials, the transit agency could end up having to pay taxes on two blocks of Midtown property it's holding for a private developer for several months. Metro's board approved the purchase of the property in question, a two-block, $7.2 million parcel bordered by Main, Holman, Travis and Winbern, on March 22. The seller is developer Robert H. Schultz's RHS Interests, which plans a mixed-use development for the site. RHS can buy the property back from Metro within a year for $7.2 million; for six months after that, the price will be $7.2 million plus interest; and after 18 months, Metro may do whatever it wants to with the property. For Schultz, the deal has two big benefits: The price of the land is locked for 12 months — and during that time, while Metro is holding onto the property, he won't have to pay taxes on it.
image: National Trust for Historic Preservation
Think Harris County has undervalued your house in its appraisal? Yeah, we bet you can't wait to correct that one — but you'd better do it soon, because tomorrow's the last day for homeowners to protest their property's appraised value.

Missed Connections: Gefilte Fish...and "Chain Connections"