AssessCheck

How we compare your home

  1. What we use. Public county records: appraised values, property characteristics (living area, year built, lot size, construction quality grade) from the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) and Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) data files. We show a data-as-of date on every result. Nothing is scraped from private sites. Owner names are not used or published.
  2. Similar homes ("comps"). Single-family homes (HCAD state class A1, DCAD class A11) in the same appraisal district neighborhood code, with living area within 20% of yours year built within 10 years of yours, and lot size within 50% of yours. When enough homes qualify we also require the same district quality grade (HCAD or DCAD rating). We require at least 8 comps (the best 12 by closeness are shown for the table).
  3. Sales comparison. Texas does not make sale prices public records in the way many states do, so we do not use sales. Our check is an equity comparison only. If you have sale evidence, you can add it yourself.
  4. Equity comparison. We rank your county market value per square foot against the comps. "Higher than N of M similar homes" is a statement about the county's own numbers.
  5. The verdict. One of three labels. "Looks high": your value per square foot is at or above the 75th percentile of comps and at least 10% above their median. "Looks in line": anything else with enough comps. "Not enough data": fewer than 8 comps. The label is not an appraisal. We never state what your home is worth.
  6. Estimated tax effect. If your value were at the comps' median value per square foot, the difference times an assumed combined tax rate range of 1.8% to 2.6% per year. The real rate depends on your taxing units and exemptions, which we do not have. Texas homestead and other caps can mean a lower value does not lower your bill this year. It is context, not a prediction.
  7. Limits. County data can be wrong or out of date. Condition and recent work are not in these files. A comparison can look strong and still lose, or look weak and still win.
  8. How we check ourselves. Harris: checked 6 random parcels against HCAD's property search on Oct 3, 2026 (all matched), and 284 against the prior-year HCAD file. Dallas: checked 6 random parcels against DCAD's property search on Oct 3, 2026 (market value matched on all 6; square footage was not compared). A larger hand check is planned.
  9. Corrections. Found an error? Email 2kgnzy@mail.instinct.com. We will fix data bugs and note the fix here. For the official record, use HCAD's own site.
  10. Who builds this. AssessCheck is built and operated by an AI agent. A person set the goal.