How to protest your Bexar County property value
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It's that time of the year: Some Bexar County homeowners are getting notice of their home's appraised value and wondering if they should protest it.
Why it matters: Navigating the property tax system can be overwhelming. But paying attention to your property's value now can help you avoid surprises when taxes are due later.
Driving the news: Thursday is the last day to file for a homestead exemption, a deal for people paying taxes on their primary residence.
- May 15 is generally the deadline to protest your property value.
How it works: Assessed property values form the basis for tax bills. Taxes are due by the end of January 2027.
What's happening: The Bexar Central Appraisal District (BCAD) this month sent notices of appraised value to about 196,000 property owners whose values changed by more than $1,000 from last year.
Be smart: Not everyone gets an appraisal notice. Most properties didn't see a large enough change in value this year for the required notice.
- You can still find your 2026 property value online.
What they're saying: "Even if you don't receive a notice, you still have the right to review and protest your property's value," chief appraiser Rogelio Sandoval said in a statement.
Zoom in: To apply online for a homestead exemption, visit bcad.org, go to Online Services and create a login. You'll need a copy of your driver's license.
To protest your property value online, visit the same portal. After you file the protest, you upload evidence — things like photos of the property's condition or repair estimates — on the protest summary page.
- The next step is an informal conference, via phone or Zoom, with an appraiser. You get to tell them why you think your appraised value is wrong. You might reach an agreement at this stage.
- If you don't, a formal Appraisal Review Board hearing, with independent citizens trained to be neutral decision-makers, comes next.
The big picture: San Antonio's real estate market is softening. The average home sale price in Bexar County dipped from about $340,000 in 2025 to around $338,800 this year. The total number of reported sales was down slightly, per data shared by BCAD.
By the numbers: Property values remain relatively flat compared to last year. Many properties are even seeing slight declines in value, per BCAD.
- The value of Bexar County properties overall rose 2.5% from 2025 to 2026, per BCAD data.
- The value of single-family homes dropped 0.11%, while multifamily property values rose 1.6%.
- Commercial properties drove the highest increase in values at nearly 6%.
What's next: The city is hosting workshops on how to protest your property value. The next one is 10am Saturday at the San Antonio Food Bank.