We moved into our newly built home this Spring. I quickly filed for our homestead exemption shortly after. A person from the county appraisal district recently called me and said that they have to "inspect" the property to insure that it is our primary residence and not a second home. They also said that since we will be new to the tax roll, they have to measure the exterior of the home.

My question to the OB is, do I let them onto my property to do the "inspection"? Almost everything I have read in the past says to never let the tax man onto your property. I have heard that they use drones these days, and I am confused as to what they will actually need to see with their eyes that says this is my primary residence and that I'm not renting it out to someone else.

We specifically left cover around our house so you cannot see it from the road. Another issue I am worried about, is that we do not have any shades or curtains on the back windows of the house, so they could easily look in even if its all locked up and see what kind of finishes we have in the home which I know is something you never want them to see.

If this is actually the true normal procedure, I guess I am fine with it, but I wanted to get some other opinions before I allow them to see everything. They basically already told me that this is a requirement and "the rules" and that they would deny the HE if they cannot see the house.

Never have had an "inspection" to determine that the property was my primary residence. How can they tell if it is your "main" home or your "vacation" home.

If you wish, provide them with the blueprints, and if there were any permits needed, that should suffice. Though, having a TDL with the address of the residence along with the bill of sale is all that is required by STATE Law along with a signed affidavit.


This doesn't pass the smell test for me.

• Tax Code Section 11.13(b) requires school districts to provide a $40,000 exemption on a residence homestead and Tax Code Section 11.13(n) allows any taxing unit to adopt a local option residence homestead exemption of up to 20 percent of a property's appraised value. The local option exemption cannot be less than $5,000. Tax Code Section 11.13(a) requires counties that collect farm-to-market or flood control taxes to provide a $3,000 residence homestead exemption.
  
  To qualify for the general residence homestead exemption an individual must have an ownership interest in the property and use the property as the individual's principal residence. An applicant is required to state that he or she does not claim an exemption on another residence homestead in or outside of Texas.

Quote:

---

so they could easily look in even if its all locked up and see what kind of finishes we have in the home which I know is something you never want them to see.

---

County tax man doesn't care about finishes. Appraiser doesn't even care when you refi. I can promise you this.

My county uses sat images. Personally, I would let them on my place if they asked. I want them to have the CORRECT sq ft, not just a guess bc I'm afraid of someone seeing my place. I know we are all suppose to hate the govt, but this is a scenario where I want it done right the first time. The headache of a prop tax protest outweighs the discomfort of letting the tax man confirm homestead.

Look up your property address in taxnet.com and see if your sketch is there. Sometimes the builder sends floor plans when the home is complete.

You don't need an account to determine if the sketch is there. Go to your county, then address. Look at the little tabs under your info and look for improvement sketch.

Rural counties usually update every 6 months.