San Antonio homeowners are getting a tiny bit of relief on paper in 2026, even as the local tax base keeps growing. On average, Bexar County single-family homes slipped about 0.11% in market value, while the county’s overall property roll still climbed roughly 2.5%. The gap comes from a wave of new construction and stronger commercial and multifamily appraisals that pushed totals higher even as many houses cooled. Notices and online valuations are going out this spring, and those numbers will be front and center when city budget talks kick into gear later this year.
What the 2026 numbers show
Single-family residential values fell about 0.11%, while multifamily appraisals rose roughly 1.62% and commercial values climbed nearly 6%, according to the San Antonio Report. For properties with a homestead exemption, the average market value dipped from around $337,000 to about $330,000, and the county’s average sale price inched down from about $340,000 to $338,800. The appraisal rolls also show far fewer big jumps this year, with roughly 196,000 of about 734,000 properties seeing increases greater than $1,000.
Check your notice and know the deadline
Property owners can review their 2026 valuation online and have until May 15, or 30 days after their Notice of Appraised Value is mailed, whichever is later, to file a protest, the Bexar Central Appraisal District explains on its website. The Bexar Central Appraisal District also notes that some successful valuation challenges from 2025 will carry forward into 2026, which means not every homeowner will receive a new notice. The district’s online portal and help center walk owners through how to upload evidence and request either an informal conference or a formal ARB hearing.
Why this matters for city finances
Even a small dip in single-family values can ripple through San Antonio’s budget, since the city leans heavily on the taxable roll and local tax rates for revenue. With the county’s total roll propped up by new construction and rising commercial values, city leaders are already talking through a familiar set of trade-offs between fees, borrowing and whether to break a decades-long streak of no tax rate increases, as reported by the San Antonio Report.
Recent trend and what to watch
After double-digit jumps in 2022 and 2023, growth slowed to the low single digits in 2024 and 2025, and this year’s small residential correction keeps that cooler pattern going, a trend reflected in the appraisal district’s certified totals and reports from the Bexar Central Appraisal District. Homeowners who spot something that looks off should compare recent local sales and basic property details before filing a protest, and keep an eye on upcoming tax rate and bond decisions that will determine how these valuations turn into actual bills.
If you disagree with your value, gather recent comparable sales and photos, review the district’s online guidance, and file a protest by the statutory deadline to preserve your rights. For most homeowners, the smartest play right now is simple: log in to BCAD, look up your 2026 value and Notice of Appraised Value if one was mailed, then decide whether a protest makes sense.
