D E W Babb Survey property tax protests: 2026 data

370 homes in Melissa, Collin County (appraisal neighborhood SMLR), compared with their most similar neighbors.

Updated October 12, 2026. Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026 data. Methodology

single-family homes compared
370
valued above similar homes nearby
52%
look worth protesting in 2026
47%
of decided 2026 protests got a reduction
86%

52% of D E W Babb Survey homes are valued above similar homes nearby

We compared each of 370 single-family homes with its most similar neighbors (same neighborhood and quality, similar size and age). 52% have a house value above the median of those homes: together, $7.7 million of house value above them. Texas lets you protest a value that is above the median of comparable homes.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

175 D E W Babb Survey homes look worth protesting in 2026

We rate 105 "Yes" and 70 "Maybe". If every one of them protested and got the reduction their comparables support, their owners could pay about $13,040 less in property tax a year.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

31% of D E W Babb Survey homeowners protested in 2026, and 86% of decided protests got a reduction

Of 370 D E W Babb Survey homeowners in our data, 113 protested their 2026 value; 92 of 107 decided protests lowered it, typically by $136,380 (13.3% of the value).

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

D E W Babb Survey homeowners who protested on their own got bigger reductions than those who hired an agent: $187,063 vs. $109,106

The typical winning protest cut the value by 17.8% on your own vs. 10.4% with an agent.

On your own

$187,063

typical value cut among wins (17.8%)

Decided protests won
91%
Cost
$0–50
Off the yearly tax bill
about $1,384, all yours

With a paid agent

$109,106

typical value cut among wins (10.4%)

Decided protests won
82%
Cost
25–40% of the tax saved
Off the yearly tax bill
about $807, minus $202–$323 to the agent

Source: the Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026 protests. Tax figures at a typical 0.7% effective tax rate. Agent or do it yourself? · Methodology

An agent keeps 25–40% of what you save. Doing it yourself costs $0–50.

At a typical 0.7% tax rate, the typical win on your own takes about $1,384 a year off the tax bill, and you keep all of it. The typical agent win takes off about $807, and the agent keeps about $202–$323 of that. Filing is free, online or by mail, and there's no agent contract to renew or cancel each year.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

66 D E W Babb Survey homes valued above similar homes weren't protested

Their house values were above the median of the most similar neighbors, the comparison Texas law allows a protest on, but their owners didn't protest in 2026.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

The typical D E W Babb Survey home's value rose 42.5% this year

Median change in appraised market value from last year.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

The typical D E W Babb Survey home pays about $6,555 a year in property tax

Our estimate from 2026 published tax rates and each home's exemptions: 0.7% of market value.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

38% of D E W Babb Survey homes have no homestead exemption on file

Usually a rental or second home. If it's your own home, a homestead exemption takes $140,000 off its school taxable value and caps yearly increases in taxable value at 10%; you apply with your appraisal district (Form 50-114).

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

Is your home one of them?

Free, in about 10 seconds: how your home compares with similar homes nearby.

By the numbers

Single-family homes370
Median market value$890,646
Median change from last year+42.5%
Median value per sq ft$387
Median living area2,116 sq ft
Median lot125,192 sq ft
Median year built1994
Homes with a pool15%
Homestead exemption on file62%
Median estimated property tax$6,555 a year
Median effective tax rate0.7%
Homes with a paid protest agent20%

Streets where most homes are valued above similar homes

StreetHomesAbove similar homesMedian gap
FANNIN RD1736%-2.1%
MILRANY LN2030%-5.7%

Streets with at least 10 homes we could compare. "Median gap": how far the street's typical house value is from its comparables' median.

How to protest

The protest deadline is May 15, or 30 days after your appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later. Check the date on your notice. New to this? Read how to protest.

Have a specific Texas address? Check it at taxprotesting.com/check?address=1234 Main St, Plano, TX with your own street address, or use the search box.

Based on 2026 appraisal values and protest outcomes from the Collin Central Appraisal District. Estimates, not promises: every protest is decided on its own evidence.