Jim Gilbert's Austin Real Estate Blog

Report the Details of a Home Purchase to the Appraisal District?

A few weeks ago a former client who had purchased a home in the Round Rock area called me. She told me that the Williamson County Appraisal District had requested specific information related to the transaction, including the purchase price. She wondered if she needed to complete the form and send it back.

I told her (1) that Texas government entities including the appraisal districts can request this information but are not entitled to it, and (2) that she could fill in the form and send it back if she wanted to, but she was not required to do so.

I asked her to send me a copy of the form that she had received. It is called a "Sales Confirmation Survey" (emphasis mine). Her name, address, legal information about the property, seller and deed date followed.

Here is what the survey said next: "Our records indicate that you purchased the above-referenced property. The Texas Property Tax Code requires appraisal districts to appraise property at its market value as of January 1st of each year. We are currently collecting information for the 2010 appraisals. The information will help us determine market value and to ensure fair and uniform property values." These statements are true, but what followed in bold, underlined CAPITAL letters is what really caught her attention, and caused her to call me:

YOU MAY ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR SETTLEMENT STATEMENT TO THIS FORM RATHER THAN COMPLETING THIS FORM.

My client was troubled by the thought of sending her settlement statement (or its details) to the appraisal district. After our discussion, she elected to send the "survey" back to WCAD with most questions answered, but without the purchase price on it and without the settlement statement attached. She noted on the form that under Texas law she was not required to disclose the contract sales price. In Texas, you may disclose what you paid for a home to anyone, including an appraisal district, but you do not have to.

If you have questions, or need help in purchasing or selling a home in the Austin area, please give me a call at 512.913.1557.