Last updated: September 2026
Answers to the questions we hear most about the property tax, closing cost, and mortgage payment calculators. If something's missing, email us and we'll add it.
The tax math — homestead exemptions, the 10% annual appraisal cap, senior/disabled add-ons, the 100% disabled veteran exemption, and MUD/PID rates — follows actual Texas Tax Code rules. The county tax rates are planning-level estimates from secondary sources, not verified against every taxing jurisdiction, and can drift from your area's current rate. Confirm your exact rate and exemption eligibility with your county appraisal district before making a real decision.
Texas requires a $140,000 exemption from your home's value for school taxes on a primary residence, plus $60,000 more if you're 65+ or disabled. The calculator applies these automatically when you check the boxes. In real life it's not automatic — file Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district by May 1. Full details, including veteran exemptions: Texas Property Tax Exemptions Explained.
Once you have a homestead exemption, Texas caps how much your appraised value can rise for tax purposes at 10% per year, plus the value of any new improvements, even if market value rises faster. The 5-year outlook applies this cap starting the year after your exemption is granted, matching how counties actually phase it in.
A Municipal Utility District (MUD) or Public Improvement District (PID) is a special taxing district — common in newer Texas subdivisions — that adds its own rate on top of county, city, and school rates to pay for water, sewer, and roads. There's no statewide MUD/PID rate, and not every property has one. Find your specific rate from your appraisal district or closing documents and enter it yourself. In the county comparison table, your rate is applied equally across all counties shown for a like-for-like comparison — it won't actually carry over if you buy elsewhere. See our MUD & PID guide for the legal difference between the two and typical rate ranges.
Texas veterans with a 100% VA disability rating (or individual unemployability), or the surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified, get a full property tax exemption on their homestead under Tax Code §11.131. File Form 50-135 with your county appraisal district. Checking this box in the calculator overrides the other exemption fields and shows a full exemption. Rated under 100%? You may still qualify for a partial exemption of $5,000–$12,000.
You generally have until May 15, or 30 days after your county mails your Notice of Appraised Value — whichever is later — to protest an appraisal you think is too high. The calculator flags this based on the date you enter; confirm the exact date on your own Notice of Appraised Value, since mailing dates vary by county. Walk-through of the whole process: How to Protest Your Texas Property Tax Appraisal.
Texas is a "promulgated rate" state — the Texas Department of Insurance sets one official rate schedule that every title company must charge; it isn't shopped or negotiated. The calculator uses that exact published formula for owner's policies between $100,000 and $1,000,000. Outside that range, or for a lender's policy, get a quote from a title company.
Title insurance uses the real state-published formula (see above). Everything else — commissions, escrow or attorney fees, survey costs, inspection fees, and how they typically split between buyer and seller — is a common planning figure, not a quote. Real invoices vary by title company, lender, and negotiated terms. Treat these numbers as a budgeting starting point, not your closing disclosure. For the option period, earnest money, and who customarily pays what, see Texas Closing Costs Explained.
Principal and interest use the standard fixed-rate amortization formula — exact math once you enter a real interest rate. The interest rate, homeowners insurance estimate, and PMI rate are placeholders; replace them with your lender's actual quote and your insurance estimate.
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No. Every calculator here produces a planning estimate. Confirm final numbers with your title company, lender, and county appraisal district before making financial decisions. See our Terms of Use for the full disclaimer.
Email customerservice@txhomecosts.com with questions, corrections, or an out-of-date county rate.