Everyone in my corner of the DFW Metromess has their bowels in an uproar this week, with the arrival of the estimated property tax bill sent out by the local tax collector.
Happens every year. The estimated tax bill is sent out and everyone has their bowels in an uproar about it. For the next month or so, there will be a rush to the tax office to protest whatever value the tax people put on their property in hopes of reducing the bill when it comes due next January.
The better half and I are lucky on two fronts. For one, we are both over sixty-five and for us, one of the taxes is frozen. I believe it will be the school tax. For the other, we have what’s called a “Homestead Exemption,” which limits the increase of the taxable value of our house to 10%. Considering a Real Estate listing I saw for a house identical to ours in our subdivision, 10% is quite reasonable.
The listing I saw (and showed to the better half) priced that identical house at $400,000 – more than double what we paid for ours. Given the way home prices are soaring in this general area, it would not surprise me if the seller gets every penny he’s asking for.
What’s nuts is that we are getting people calling/texting/emailing us on a regular basis, offering to buy our house for way more than we paid. The latest offer was between $300 and $350k in cash. What’s even nuttier is that if we accepted that offer, we would have to scramble to find similar accommodations and deal with the higher prices I’d have to pay for something similar – not to mention having to go to the trouble of moving. Again. I mean, since moving to north Texas, I have moved five times. By myself. Even with what help I got; I’m not getting any younger.
Besides, I like where I am. We have what we need. We can accommodate guests. When we don’t have guests, we have enough room for more stuff than we need, along with a separate room I use as a study. The other half has a study, too – when she’s not sharing mine.
As far as the house itself, well, it’s modest. Non-pretentious. The lot is a fair size, it presents somewhat well, and it fits in with the rest of the neighborhood. It is by no means a $400,000 house. Or even a $300,000 house. Even with the solar panels, it would be a stretch to say that the house is worth a quarter of a million dollars. To me, a quarter million is one hell of a lot of money. As a “Person of Lesser Means,” anything more than, say, $100,000 is a hell of a lot of money. So, where do I get off living in a house “worth” $400k?
Still trying to figure it out. In the meantime, I am happy, the better half is happy, and the dog Filbrix is happy with where we are. We can afford the payments and that’s all that counts for the time being.
Be Seeing You!
bdharrellauthor 
Faced the same. But had to move to get Boss close to family in case I, you know, swan dive into oblivion. So we downsized. Whatever the hell that means. Different house, different but somewhat equal problems to address. Different mortgage. Timed it right. Still a pain in the sit-down. Good you’ve got what you need, what you want. Been a lo-o-ng time since I been to DFW. Carswell. Memories.
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