Everything Is Bigger in Texas — Especially Your Property Tax Bill
Why property taxes tell a very different story than income taxes
Last week, my wife Becky, a friend, and I were in the area for a marathon and decided to take a short drive to look at a new construction home in El Paso, Texas.
On paper, it checked a lot of boxes:
• One-story ranch
• Nearly 3,000 square feet
• New construction
• Listed at $659,900
• Comparable homes would cost roughly $100,000 more just across the border in New Mexico
If you’re browsing online, this house looks great. Clean lines. Big rooms. Modern finishes. Plenty of photos.
Exactly the kind of listing people text to their spouse and say, “Hey, look at this one.”
But photos never tell the full story.
The Line You Always Hear in Texas
While we were walking the property, the realtor said the line you hear everywhere in Texas:
“We don’t have income tax here.”
Fair enough.
So I asked the one question that never shows up in listing photos:
“What are the property taxes?”
Her answer stopped the conversation.
“About 3%.”
She laughed and added, “Yeah… it’s a real problem. We have some of the highest property taxes in the state. People are still moving here though.”
On a ~$660,000 house, that works out to roughly $19,000–$20,000 per year — every year — just to live in a house you already own.
No mortgage required.
Why I Asked That Question in the First Place
I didn’t ask by accident.
About a year ago, a former client called me from Colorado after moving back there from Texas and said something I didn’t forget:
“Who cares if they don’t have income tax?
My property taxes were insane.
I’m glad I kept my house in Colorado and moved back.
I’ll pay the income tax — the math down there didn’t make sense.”
That comment stuck with me.
So when I heard “no income tax” again, I already knew where the bill was hiding.
Let’s Do the Math (Because Feelings Lie)
Let’s compare two simplified scenarios on a ~$700,000 home.
New Mexico (rough averages):
• ~5–6% state income tax on $100,000 ≈ $5,500
• ~1% property tax ≈ $7,000
• Total ≈ $12,500 per year
El Paso, Texas:
• No state income tax
• ~3% property tax on $700,000 ≈ $21,000 per year
• Total ≈ $21,000 per year
Same income.
Same house value.
One state takes nearly double — just through a different door.
That’s not “lower taxes.”
That’s repackaged taxes.
Why This Matters More Than People Admit
Property taxes don’t care if:
• You lose your job
• You retire
• You pay off your mortgage
• The market crashes
They don’t go away.
You can own your home free and clear and still owe the government $20,000+ every single year — indefinitely.
That changes how you think about:
• “Affordable” housing
• Retirement planning
• Fixed income
• Long-term ownership
It also explains why so many people quietly leave “low-tax” states after doing the math.
Math doesn’t change when you cross state lines.
About the House Itself (The Part Listings Don’t Show)
The house looked great online.
In person, it told a different story.
Daniel and Becky both said the same thing after walking through:
“It looked great online, but it feels like shortcuts were taken.”
I agreed.
When you’re buying a custom home, you don’t want it to feel like decisions were driven by margin instead of longevity.
And with property taxes like these, that context matters.
None of that shows up in photos.
Photos sell optimism.
Reality reveals cost.
What You Don’t See Online
This home sits in a pocket of brand-new construction — its own mini subdivision — bordered by much older homes, including a trailer park on the same street.
That doesn’t show up in listing photos.
I included aerial images so you can see the surrounding area for yourself — including neighboring properties that aren’t visible from the glamour shots.
It’s not about judgment.
It’s about knowing what you’re actually buying into — and what you’ll still be paying for long after the excitement fades.
This Isn’t Anti-Texas — It’s Pro-Math
This isn’t political.
It’s not about state loyalty.
It’s about understanding how you’re actually being charged.
“No income tax” sounds great —
until you realize where the bill shows up instead.
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
El Paso, TX — and now I understand what the “TX” really stands for.
Taxes.
Why This Story Lives on HousingFreak
This listing isn’t here to sell you this house.
It’s here to document what most platforms don’t:
• The hidden costs
• The driveway conversations
• The math people do after they fall in love
The MLS link will eventually disappear when this house sells.
This story won’t.
On HousingFreak, listings don’t expire — and you control them.
Want to Post a Story Like This?
You don’t need to be a realtor.
You don’t need to sell anything.
Maybe you:
• Looked at a house that didn’t feel right
• Did the math others ignored
• Noticed something listings didn’t show
• Learned an expensive lesson
Those stories matter.
If you’ve got one, park it here.
👉 Join HousingFreak & place your first story
Click my influencer link above, then hit the yellow plus button (or the “Add Listing” button at the top right of the page).
By the way — I created this story and posted it entirely on my phone.
It’s that simple to do.
Images Disclaimer: Images are AI‑generated or stylized for commentary and context only. Original MLS photos are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here under fair use for educational and discussion purposes. This content is not an offer to sell real estate, and I am not the listing agent or property owner.