Comments on: 5 Steps To Reduce Your Property Tax http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/ Real Estate, Insight, Statistics, Gossip, & News...With a Twist and Some Flavor Mon, 21 May 2012 00:11:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Sophie http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11816 Sophie Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:34:38 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11816 "It’s never too late to fight. Start contacting them now! The window for 2010 comps is basically the first 90 days of 2010." assuming they will raise again by 3% (that's what you are saying), yes, it will go over my threshold. I have 2 questions: 1. is the new value used for the future raises? ie. if one drop from 1.2 to 1, then the following year, is it 1.2+3% or 1+3% ? Will they ever have an opportunity to reverse to the old 1.2 scale? If so, this winter I would have the means to lower (closing price is decent enough) and reap the benefits for some years 2. sorry to be thick. Would you kindly write a typical timeline? like xxx= window for comps yyy = letters sent zzz= appeals etc. I'm not keen on looking back, but given the appropriate warning and time line, I can prepare my file and file it in time in the future. Also, I can set an email warning for comps, so I don't have to thank Alex for comps with my dimes and nickels (or a bottle of Tequila for his marguaritas!) thanks for your encouragement. ((I can't tell if the city is charging me more than reasonable. Living in the city is WAY too expensive anyway... But YES, I'm mad mad mad at each property tax statement)) “It’s never too late to fight. Start contacting them now! The window for 2010 comps is basically the first 90 days of 2010.”

assuming they will raise again by 3% (that’s what you are saying), yes, it will go over my threshold.

I have 2 questions:
1. is the new value used for the future raises? ie. if one drop from 1.2 to 1, then the following year, is it 1.2+3% or 1+3% ? Will they ever have an opportunity to reverse to the old 1.2 scale? If so, this winter I would have the means to lower (closing price is decent enough) and reap the benefits for some years

2. sorry to be thick. Would you kindly write a typical timeline? like xxx= window for comps yyy = letters sent zzz= appeals etc. I’m not keen on looking back, but given the appropriate warning and time line, I can prepare my file and file it in time in the future. Also, I can set an email warning for comps, so I don’t have to thank Alex for comps with my dimes and nickels (or a bottle of Tequila for his marguaritas!)

thanks for your encouragement.

((I can’t tell if the city is charging me more than reasonable. Living in the city is WAY too expensive anyway… But YES, I’m mad mad mad at each property tax statement))

]]> By: Financial Samurai http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11810 Financial Samurai Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:35:00 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11810 Why not plan to fight Sophie? If the city is charging you more than what your property is worth, that's akin to highway robbery if you ask me. Fight apathy, as that's what big governments expect and hope for it's citizens every day! It's never too late to fight. Start contacting them now! The window for 2010 comps is basically the first 90 days of 2010. Fight on. FS Why not plan to fight Sophie? If the city is charging you more than what your property is worth, that’s akin to highway robbery if you ask me.

Fight apathy, as that’s what big governments expect and hope for it’s citizens every day!

It’s never too late to fight. Start contacting them now! The window for 2010 comps is basically the first 90 days of 2010.

Fight on.

FS

]]> By: Sophie http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11764 Sophie Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:47:40 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11764 what about starting to work on next year's? how early is too early? (no, I'm not planning to fight) what about starting to work on next year’s? how early is too early?

(no, I’m not planning to fight)

]]> By: anon415 http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11763 anon415 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:30:39 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11763 Jim, I think it is too late to file an appeal for a reduction. The assessor will only look at the ones filed before the deadline. Even though Samurai recently got granted a reduction, it doesn't matter if the tax bill was sent out or not. If you pay your higher bill, the tax office will refund you the difference if they settle. In his post, he also states that he's been working with the office for a few months, so I assume he filed his papers on time. I doubt the Assessor's Office will take new cases, especially if they are trying to save the city's budget. Jim, I think it is too late to file an appeal for a reduction. The assessor will only look at the ones filed before the deadline. Even though Samurai recently got granted a reduction, it doesn’t matter if the tax bill was sent out or not. If you pay your higher bill, the tax office will refund you the difference if they settle. In his post, he also states that he’s been working with the office for a few months, so I assume he filed his papers on time.

I doubt the Assessor’s Office will take new cases, especially if they are trying to save the city’s budget.

]]> By: Jim http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11762 Jim Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:47:13 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11762 You're right and wrong Anon415. The deadline may have passed, but if you read Samurai's post, he just lobbied successfully to lower his prop assessment this month. It's worth going to an appeals hearing b/c it is so easy to fight now as lower comps are ubiquitous. You’re right and wrong Anon415. The deadline may have passed, but if you read Samurai’s post, he just lobbied successfully to lower his prop assessment this month.

It’s worth going to an appeals hearing b/c it is so easy to fight now as lower comps are ubiquitous.

]]> By: anon415 http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11761 anon415 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:52:52 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11761 Great advice, but the process to appeal your San Francisco property has passed. I think the deadline was in September, so anyone who wants to appeal; you need to wait until next year. Phil Ting and the Assessor's Office are complete idiots and sllloooow. As mentioned here and SS, he's all politics. He knows property has dropped but still continues to raise prices. Since it's all politics, he needs to promise the unions/ voters (majority renters in SF) that he'll maintain values so that the City wont get hammered with the General Fund or wont cut jobs. Great advice, but the process to appeal your San Francisco property has passed. I think the deadline was in September, so anyone who wants to appeal; you need to wait until next year.

Phil Ting and the Assessor’s Office are complete idiots and sllloooow. As mentioned here and SS, he’s all politics. He knows property has dropped but still continues to raise prices. Since it’s all politics, he needs to promise the unions/ voters (majority renters in SF) that he’ll maintain values so that the City wont get hammered with the General Fund or wont cut jobs.

]]> By: sparky-b http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11759 sparky-b Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:01:02 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11759 They raised mine $120K on a new purchase. Basically saying, we don't care what you paid, this is what we think it's worth. During our on-going dispute they have also claimed that it was not an arms length purchase, although again they had no information to support the claim. They raised mine $120K on a new purchase. Basically saying, we don’t care what you paid, this is what we think it’s worth. During our on-going dispute they have also claimed that it was not an arms length purchase, although again they had no information to support the claim.

]]> By: thefrontsteps http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11758 thefrontsteps Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:32:19 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11758 Bobby, Contest coming soon. Send your pic(k)s to thefrontsteps@gmail.com. Bobby,

Contest coming soon. Send your pic(k)s to thefrontsteps@gmail.com.

]]> By: Financial Samurai http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11753 Financial Samurai Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:43:48 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11753 Hey Alex, thnx for highlighting. It's really important to fight, and get mad. It's LUDICROUS the SF assessor's office can raise property valuations in the biggest downturn in the history of our lifetimes. I was shocked when they raised my assessed value by $94,000. What a bunch of crock. They KNOW it's a sham, and they are just HOPING nobody questions their decision. Once you do, there's no denying they are trying to rip you off. It's easy to fight. Stand strong folks! Financial Samurai Hey Alex, thnx for highlighting.

It’s really important to fight, and get mad. It’s LUDICROUS the SF assessor’s office can raise property valuations in the biggest downturn in the history of our lifetimes.

I was shocked when they raised my assessed value by $94,000. What a bunch of crock.

They KNOW it’s a sham, and they are just HOPING nobody questions their decision. Once you do, there’s no denying they are trying to rip you off. It’s easy to fight.

Stand strong folks!

Financial Samurai

]]> By: Bobby http://thefrontsteps.com/2009/11/11/5-steps-to-reduce-your-property-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11750 Bobby Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:24:12 +0000 http://thefrontsteps.com/?p=5804#comment-11750 Really good information here. Oh and please do Sexiest Realtor for 2009! There are some new good ones out there. Really good information here. Oh and please do Sexiest Realtor for 2009! There are some new good ones out there.

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