Property Tax Basics
We Show Our Work: How FairPath Builds Your Property Tax Protest Packet
FairPath builds two documents for every protest: a county-calibrated evidence packet and a homeowner filing guide. Here's exactly how each one gets built.
Matthew Heintz
Founder of FairPath. Building tools that help homeowners pay only what they owe.
Harris County
Harris County and Montgomery County Play by Different Rules — And Most Homeowners Don't Know It
HCAD and MCAD both use May 15 as their protest deadline — but the filing portals, hearing procedures, and evidence formats differ significantly. Here's what changes county to county.
property assessment
How a Hot Housing Market Affects Your Property Tax Assessment
Rising home prices drive up property assessments and taxes. Learn how the 10% homestead cap protects Texas homeowners and what to expect next.
property appraisal
How Texas Appraisal Districts Calculate Your Home's Value in 2026
Learn the three methods Texas appraisal districts use to value homes: sales comparison, cost, and income approaches. Discover where errors commonly occur.
why I built fairpath
Why I Built FairPath
Why I Built FairPath: give homeowners the same quality of evidence that a professional firm would produce, at a transparent price, with full visibility into how every number was calculated.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Property Tax Protest Guide 2026: Deadlines & Process
Complete guide to protesting property taxes in Montgomery County, TX for 2026. Learn MCAD deadlines, filing methods, evidence requirements, and hearing process.
property tax protest
How to Review a Texas Property Tax Notice and Organize the Evidence
Step-by-step guide to building a professional property tax protest packet in Texas. Learn how to challenge your assessment and reduce your tax bill legally.
Property Tax Basics
Market Value vs Assessed Value in Texas: Key Differences Explained
Learn the key differences between market value, appraised value, and assessed value in Texas property taxes. Understand how the homestead cap affects your bill.
harris-county
How to Use iSettle to File Your Harris County Property Tax Protest (2026 Guide)
Step-by-step guide to using iSettle, Harris County's online property tax protest system. File your protest, upload evidence, and navigate settlement offers before May 15, 2026.
homestead cap
Texas 10% Homestead Cap: How It Limits Your Property Tax Increases
The Texas 10% homestead cap limits annual assessed value increases on your primary residence. Learn how it works, when it resets, and what it means for your taxes.
Katy TX
Katy TX Property Tax Protest Guide: Which County & How to File
Property Tax Protest Katy TX: Your Complete Filing Guide Property tax protests in Katy, Texas require filing with one of three different county appraisal districts—Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD), Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD), or Waller Central Appraisal District (WCAD)—depending on your specific address. Most Katy properties
Pricing
The Phantom Fee: Why Contingency Services Can Charge You When You Save Nothing
Contingency property tax firms charge a percentage of your "savings" — but market value reductions don't always reduce your tax bill. Here's how the phantom fee works.