Property Tax Sticker Shock

[SearchMaster]

Ours went up ~$500 (~20%) because apparently my house is worth $50k more this year than it was last year. My assessed value is now ~8% higher than a best-case market value....I've never had that happen. Usually it's a bit behind.

I would have hardly blinked an eye at 10%. I could understand 20% if there was a valid reason. And while we will likely appeal the 50% increase in my home's taxes, it won't be a backbreaker if we lose the appeal. The issue I have is with the 500% increase on the small lot.

All things considered, the county really has done a great job of cutting back the last few years to try to balance the budget (cutting nonessential services, closing four parks, employee layoffs, etc.). The big shortfall this year came from a reduction in state funding and increased county employee insurance contributions.

I feel confident we will be successful appealing the assessment, especially with an appraisal in hand from last year at 8% the county's assessment.

 

[TerryMathews]

If you intended on it being as a buffer and not building on it; donate to the county with a deed restriction that the land must remain undeveloped.

Tax donation write-off for the assessed value.

Maybe donate in 4 yearly chunks to get full value of the write-offs

With the right of eminent domain I don't see how that is an enforceable deed restriction.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

The gov't can seize your house and land if you don't pay property taxes. So the gov't really owns them.

 

[OCGuy]

Are people suggesting to get rid of property because it is appreciating, or are some saying that their house is being assessed higher even though it isn't actually worth more?

 

[OCGuy]

The gov't can seize your house and land if you don't pay property taxes. So the gov't really owns them.

Well that is an over simplification of how the world works if I have ever heard it.

They can use the lien process to recoup funds that you already owe. They take your property and then auction it off, but they can only pay fines and fees and the original debt with the proceeds.

 

[DrPizza]

They're about to reassess the market value of every house in our town and a few other local towns. Assessed value will be based on the condition of the house. Darn it! I was just about to put a new roof on my house, replacing the roof that's starting to go & leaks in 2 places. I'll have to show pictures of the top layer of shingles in one section of the house (the most recent location of construction; apparently they put on 10 year shingles). They look horrible, quite a few have fallen off the house already. I'd have already purchased the materials, but it would increase the value of my house too much. So, I'll put a big 'ol tarp over that section of the roof. Assess me now!

 

[Red Squirrel]

What I hate about property taxes is how they keep going up, but the city just keeps wasting that money. Well this goes for taxes in general. Because it's not their money, they don't treat it as such, and waste it, knowing they can just take more anyway.

What sucks too is despite the fact that you paid for your property AND pay taxes, you still don't actually fully own it. Not only that, but if you make any modifications to it that makes your life better you have to pay even more taxes on top of it! Then you have places that have HOAs or ridiculous by laws which further restrict your freedom even more. The whole system is crooked.

 

[MrPickins]

I say charge for public schooling. Why should I foot the bill for your kids schooling when I don't have any kids of my own. If you decide to spit out 4 kids then don't be pissed about paying for your choices.

You realize that Texas has mandated that children should receive public education all the way back to the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in 1836, right?

You may be in the wrong state.




(Before the augment starts, no I don't think the State is living up to its responsibility in this respect.)

 

[MrPickins]

They're about to reassess the market value of every house in our town and a few other local towns. Assessed value will be based on the condition of the house. Darn it! I was just about to put a new roof on my house, replacing the roof that's starting to go & leaks in 2 places. I'll have to show pictures of the top layer of shingles in one section of the house (the most recent location of construction; apparently they put on 10 year shingles). They look horrible, quite a few have fallen off the house already. I'd have already purchased the materials, but it would increase the value of my house too much. So, I'll put a big 'ol tarp over that section of the roof. Assess me now!

When the tax man comes to the door, lord, the house looks like a rummage sale!

 

[brianmanahan]

posting in a thinly veiled brag thread

 

[ImpulsE69]

Sounds like they were just catching it up. Talk to us when it is assessed for more than it is worth.

 

[SearchMaster]

Sounds like they were just catching it up. Talk to us when it is assessed for more than it is worth.

The lot was independently appraised at $12,000 last year. It was appraised by the county at $143,700 this year.

You were saying?

 

[Chaotic42]

My house's value dropped by about 40% since I bought it and my taxes have doubled. Still have to pay to fish in the King's waters too

 

[dmcowen674]

Property Tax Sticker Shock

Apparently my county government decided it was time to fleece the "rich" through large tax increases on lakefront properties, while keeping the millage rate the same to avoid widespread revolt.

They raised the assessed value of my residence by almost $100,000, which amounted to a tax increase of $1130. While my wife is incensed, I'm not as bothered by this because the current assessed value is still less than actual value, and our taxes are still much less than the national average.

The lulz arrive on a secondary lot we have next to our primary lot. We purchased this lot from my wife's grandmother's estate for $9K about 15 years ago. It is technically a lake lot, but is in a shallow water cove and cannot receive a dock permit as a result. It is less than a half acre, and we've been told it is essentially unbuildable because its slope precludes a proper septic system. That's not important to us, we bought it simply as a buffer between us and our closest neighbor.

Last year's assessment on this (essentially worthless) lot of land was $26K, which is a tax bill of ~$350 IIRC. This year's assessment was....$143,700 for a tax bill of $1,694.51. I smell an appeal (we had to appeal a jump to >$50K a few years ago to get it back down in the $20K's).

Anybody want to buy a piece of lakefront property? I'll sell it to you for HALF its assessed value - what a bargain!

You're rich.

Why do you have a shock to pay your fair share?

 

[SearchMaster]

You're rich.

Why do you have a shock to pay your fair share?

Dave, you recently owned a business IIRC. Does that automatically make you rich?

I bet what I paid for this house 18 years ago is less than 90% of ATOT paid for theirs. I'm not rich; I'm solidly middle class, but got lucky when I got this house at the price I did. However, my property value did skyrocket after you left the state.

 

[child of wonder]

Progressive property taxes? What will they think of next? Tolls on federal interstates?

It really is discouraging to know that the harder you work to succeed and enjoy the fruits of your success the exponentially more and more the government wants to take.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Thank you for posting this thread. I completely forgot I have my first installment of property taxes due on the 5th for some land I own. County never sent me the bill (probably sent it to my old address even though I told them I moved).
Oh and my land is rather small but does have lake rights, so I get to pay some $1,600 a year for the privilege of owning it.
Only reason I bought it is because I didn't want some asshat to built a monstrosity of a house there and be looking into the backyard of my lake house. A little privacy is nice.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

North GA - Hall County, on Lake Lanier.

https://etax.dor.ga.gov/ptd/cas/cuse/assmt.aspx

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally Posted by dmcowen674
You're rich.

Why do you have a shock to pay your fair share?

Dave, you recently owned a business IIRC. Does that automatically make you rich?

I bet what I paid for this house 18 years ago is less than 90% of ATOT paid for theirs. I'm not rich; I'm solidly middle class, but got lucky when I got this house at the price I did. However, my property value did skyrocket after you left the state.

You live on Lake Lanier. Wow, property value should have gone up.

You have to be rich to have a house on the lake shore.

The business building was owned by a Deputy Sheriff with books kept by local bank VP. Was a classic scam where the bank VP showed us set of books with incorrect costs. Deputy doubled the rent after we took the business over.

We got out of the scam before being on the street with nothing.

Lost 20 years of debi's retirement benefit plus what we took out for collateral. We are still suffering from it. Probably be close to another decade before we fully recover from it.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally Posted by dmcowen674
You're rich.

Why do you have a shock to pay your fair share?



You live on Lake Lanier. Wow, property value should have gone up.

You have to be rich to have a house on the lake shore.

The business building was owned by a Deputy Sheriff with books kept by local bank VP. Was a classic scam where the bank VP showed us set of books with incorrect costs. Deputy doubled the rent after we took the business over.

We got out of the scam before being on the street with nothing.

Lost 20 years of debi's retirement benefit plus what we took out for collateral. We are still suffering from it. Probably be close to another decade before we fully recover from it.

So, is it that you can understand his problem at having his property value go up 50x since you yourself experienced how difficult it is for costs to double, or that everyone should pay their fair share so McOwned doesn't have to?

 

[Mai72]

If you have a home in NJ you can expect to pay $6-8k in property tax. Even if you gave ZERO children .

I don't know why people live here. Its a high consumption state that forces you to pay high taxes. This state will tax you on anything and everything.
To live here isn't that much better. The quality of life isn't that much better here than it is in Texas.

We have superintendents who average $200k. We have police who work in very low crime areas making $120k a year. Essentially we have a lot of people who are milking the system.

I can only imagine where all of this is gonna take us in 20 years.

 

[Mai72]

Progressive property taxes? What will they think of next? Tolls on federal interstates?

It really is discouraging to know that the harder you work to succeed and enjoy the fruits of your success the exponentially more and more the government wants to take.

I read a financial book that stated 4 months of a middle class person's pay goes to taxes. So essentially you're working 4 months for the government. The government loves people who are high earners who spend money on nice homes, cars, and clothes because they can tax the sh*t out if them.

 

[mmntech]

Property taxes drive me nuts. I understand the need to kick up to the local lord, but around here they essentially bake a 4% increase into the budget every single year. The only thing that doesn't have a yearly increase baked into it is my salary.

Welcome to my world. Property taxes here go up 4% every year, and housing prices go up 7%. Then they wonder why so many people my age still live at home. Especially when $1000/mo rent doesn't even guarantee you a clean and safe place to live.

Gotta keep those civil servants working. They earn more than you because THEY deserve it god damn it. You lazy rich bum you.

 

[Fritzo]

I haven't read the previous responses, but you can usually contact the county assessor's office, and if you plan on living in that house for the next decade or so, you can undervalue the house in order to lower the taxes. Just look for a similar house within a mile that has similar features and a lower price, then tell them "This is my actual value".

 

[Phoenix86]

It appears that the costs of living in America are spiking at a rate greater than pay raises.

Which is pretty easy to do when payroll is stagnant for the low/middle class. Oh and productivity is up too. Work harder/better but get less purchasing power (income vs costs).