Median homestead market value sits at $493,449 — a 1.8% dip from last year. But taxable values are still rising due to homestead cap lag. Here's how to spot over-assessments and file your protest before the May 15 deadline.
If you own a home in Travis County, your 2026 assessment notice from TCAD (Travis Central Appraisal District) is in your mailbox or online portal. The headline number — median homestead market value of $493,449 — masks a more complicated story. While market values dipped approximately 1.8% on average for single-family homes (reflecting the Austin market's cooling from its 2022 peak), taxable values for many homeowners are still increasing because of how Texas's homestead exemption cap works. Understanding this distinction, and knowing when to protest, is worth $500-$1,200/year for many Travis County homeowners.
If you own a home in Travis County, your 2026 assessment notice from TCAD (Travis Central Appraisal District) is in your mailbox or online portal. The headline number — median homestead market value of $493,449 — masks a more complicated story. While market values dipped approximately 1.8% on average for single-family homes (reflecting the Austin market's cooling from its 2022 peak), taxable values for many homeowners are still increasing because of how Texas's homestead exemption cap works. Understanding this distinction, and knowing when to protest, is worth $500-$1,200/year for many Travis County homeowners.
Get my savings scan