All Signs Point Up
Houston’s office market has steadily gained strength over the last two years.
This fact is evident in the hard statistics; occupancy, rent, and absorption.
Occupancy has come a long way from when it bottomed out two years ago at
81.99%. Current occupancy stands at 84.24%, which represents a 0.40-point
hike over the quarter, a 1.88-point gain […]

Property taxes are a substantial expense for Texas homeowners, averaging about $3,600 annually. The largest and simplest way to reduce property taxes for your home is to obtain a homestead exemption.
Homestead exemptions reduce the taxable value of your home, typically by 20%. For example, if your home is assessed (for property taxes) at $150,000, and […]

To properly appeal your property taxes and be successful at the hearing, there are a number of considerations to review.
Reviewing CDU and grade of your home
Review the appraisal district’s description of grade and CDU (condition, desirability and utility) for your house. Grade is a qualitative evaluation of the construction materials and level of craftsmanship used […]

Property taxes are one of the largest line item costs incurred by apartment owners. However, many owners do not appeal effectively. Even though owners realize that property taxes can be managed and reduced through an appeal, some view taxes as an arbitrary estimate provided by the government which can’t effectively be appealed. It tends to […]

Tax savings through cost segregation is no longer out of reach for investors in small and medium size properties. With appraiser expertise, fees for analysis are often one-third to one-half lower than those charged by traditional preparers.
Several years ago a definitive court case ruled that tangible personal property included in an acquisition or in overall […]

All Texas metro markets report current overall occupancies above 90%, with Austin leading the market at 93.39%. The lowest occupancy is found in the Dallas/Fort Worth market at 90.35%. Austin also leads the Texas markets in terms of rental rates, reporting the highest rents at $0.930 per square foot (psf). Average rents in the other […]

Most commercial property owners, even those who use professional accountants, fail to take advantage of cost segregation, a tax mechanism that could generate substantial savings in federal income taxes.
While most accountants are familiar with the approach, some are hesitant to recommend it without a documented analysis of correct depreciation amounts. The numerous intricacies of IRS […]

In the retail community, there is an ongoing discussion about consumers’ lack of brand and store loyalty. Chain stores long ago took over the retail landscape, and the mom-and-pop retailer is nearly a thing of the past. Kaplan’s Ben-Hur, an independent department store operating in Houston’s Heights neighborhood for decades, recently closed amid rising land […]

Most commercial building owners are grossly overpaying federal income taxes because they are not depreciating their property as quickly as they should. A cost segregation study allows property owners to both defer and reduce federal income taxes. When properly performed by an appraiser with expertise in cost segregation, this is a conservative tax planning tool […]

Apartment owners can face staggering expenses to maintain apartment communities. The upkeep of even a modest community could involve groundskeeping, unit renovation, and replacements, such as parking lot asphalt and fencing. Another steep expense is federal income tax - and in some areas an additional state tax on income - but through an innovative study […]