San Diego, May 14, 2009 – Due to the recent slide in home values, approximately one-third of all San Diego County homes—an estimated 265,000 residential properties—are over-assessed, according to a research report authored by a leading property tax analytics expert.
The study says the percentage of homes that are over-assessed has increased from 25 percent to 32 30 percent for the 2009/2010 tax yearsince November 2008, with the average annual tax bill for those homes being $1,101. The report, authored by Adam Berkson of EasyTaxFix.com (www.EasyTaxFix.com), found that 64 percent of homes purchased after 2001 and 54 percent of homes assessed at over $500,000 are over-assessed.
Berkson’s research shows that the actual amount of tax savings to be realized varies by municipality. The average over-assessed homeowner filing a successful appeal in the city of San Diego could realize an average property tax savings of 3031.8 7 percent annually, while the average owner of an over-assessed Chula Vista home could realize an approximate savings of 36.4 percent. Homeowners in a handful of towns, such as Lemon Grove and National City, could realize an even higher tax savings—over 50 percent.
Berkson also commented today on the California Attorney General’s moves to crack down on the recent wave of misleading pitches to homeowners offering overpriced and unnecessary property tax appeal services.
He said, “It is essential that property taxes are assessed equitably, and we have provided documentation that a large number of area homeowners have legitimate grounds for appealing. Unfortunately, scam artists are taking advantage of unsuspecting consumers. People are being bombarded with messages solicitations in their mailboxes and email boxes pitching unnecessarily high-priced services to facilitate property tax appeals.”
He continued, “Many of these companies are mailing brochures that are designed to look like tax bills or other government documents, despite specific disclaimer rulesguidelines laid out by the California business and professions code. Some cite arbitrary deadlines and “late fees” intended to scare consumers into immediate action. Overcharging substantially, these companies often fail to provide legitimate websites or phone numbers where consumers can go to for help. We applaud the Attorney General’s efforts to eliminate these rip-offs.“.”
In developing his own legitimate do-it-yourself tax appeal service, Berkson found that effective help really doesn’t need to cost a lot of money.
“At EasyTaxFix.com (www.EasyTaxFix.com), we provide a very simple service that a homeowner can utilize. The owner can go to our website and obtain a free estimate regarding his or her property’s proper assessment, based on the county’s own data. Then for a modest fee of $49.99, we provide the comparable sales research that forms the basis for a successful appeal, and the owner can download fully-completed forms to be signed and submitted to the county. We provide the a level of service level and convenience that is sorely lacking in the property tax appeal arenamost people find helpful, and we don’t utilize scare tactics and or overcharge for what we provide.”
To file a property tax appeal in San Diego County, a homeowner must can first file a “Request for Informal Assessment Review” form by May 30. Homeowners who file this form will receive in July a “Notice of Value” reflecting any changes made to the assessment based on the information they provided. If the homeowner is unsatisfied with the assessment, he/she can submit an “Application for Changed Assessment” between July 2 and September 15November 30.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
30% of San Diego Homeowners are Overpaying on Property Taxes
30% of San Diego Homeowners are Overpaying on Property Taxes; May 30th deadline for the Request for Informal Assessment ReviewBy: Adam Berkson, President and Co-Founder EasyTaxFix.comMay 12, 2009
Summary:
Approximately one out of every three homes is currently over-assessed in San Diego for the 2009/2010 property tax year. With approximately 886,000 residential properties in San Diego, this means over 265,000 homeowners are potentially over-assessed and will overpay on their property taxes if there is no change to their assessment. The average annual property tax savings an over-assessed San Diego homeowner can achieve by successfully appealing their assessment is approximately $1,101 annually; this represents a property tax savings of approximately 32%. For homes assessed at more than $500,000, 54% of homes are over-assessed; for homes purchased after 2001, 64% of homes are over-assessed.
Study Results:
MethodologyUsing tax assessment and sales data sourced from San Diego County, EasyTaxFix.com individually analyzed over 767,000 San Diego properties to come up with its statistics—i.e., all properties with enough characteristics for the EasyTaxFix.com AVM (automated valuation model). Actual property assessments were compared to an estimated market value as of San Diego’s “valuation date” of January 1, 2009, and updated to be based on three sales of comparable homes sold between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009—the time-frame recommended by the County Assessor’s office on which to base the 2009/10 informal appeal. Savings are calculated at 1% of the difference between actual assessment value and estimated market value, as this is a conservative estimate of county-wide property tax rates.
County Property Taxes and the Assessment AppealIn San Diego, property assessments are based initially on the purchase price and can increase a maximum of 2 percent per year per California’s 1978 Proposition 13 tax limitations. Property taxes are set at 1 percent of the purchase price. According to market data, as of January 1, 2009, median home values had fallen over 25% in the past year alone.[1]
The “Request For Informal Assessment Review” form is the first level of appeal in San Diego. The form is due to the Assessor by May 30th, 2009. Notices of value will be sent out in July, which will reflect any changes made to the homeowners assessment based on the Informal appeal. If the homeowner is still not satisfied with the assessment, he/she can further appeal by filing an “Application for Changed Assessment” sometime between July 2nd and November 30th.
Why do so few people appeal their assessment?Despite the 265,000 San Diego homeowners who EasyTaxFix.com estimates as being over-assessed, few homeowners have historically filed appeals. We speculate this is due to a variety of reasons. First, homeowners are typically unaware that property values are calculated based on the home’s market value or that the home’s assessment does not always automatically reassess downward with a market decline. Second, because a large percentage of homeowners pay their property taxes through escrow impound accounts managed by their mortgage company, property taxes are essentially buried in the mortgage payment and lose visibility. Third, according to a recent study by Zillow, there is a perception-reality gap: while over three quarters of homes in the US have lost value, nearly half of US homeowners do not think their homes’ value has decreased.[2] Lastly the process of filing a property tax appeal requires resources, time and research.
The actual process of filing the appeal in San Diego is not simple. The homeowner needs to download the proper form from the County website. This appeal form requires information about the homeowner’s property being appealed—i.e. parcel number, current assessment breakdowns, etc.[3] It also asks for the “Applicant’s Opinion of Value.” In the documentation accessible on the County Assessors website, specifications for how one should come to an “opinion of value” are provided. The County suggests the homeowner reference three comparable property sales.[4] The valuation date for the 2009 appeal is January 1, 2009. The County recommends a price-per-square foot valuation methodology but states that any number of qualitative factors (i.e. views, construction quality, amenities, etc.) can affect the valuation upward or downward.[5]
One complicating factor in the appeal process is that typically homeowners do not have ready access to detailed information about comparable sold properties. One might suggest that you go to the Internet to research your home’s valuation through Zillow or Trulia. However these sites typically (a) do not provide information regarding foreclosure and short sale properties that are probably best used to achieve the lowest valuation, (b) do not provide parcel numbers for properties—which the County recommends be included in your appeal, and (c) do not restrict comparables to County-determined date ranges.
There are property tax appeal services homeowners can utilize to help them file their property tax appeal. Some such services charge fees upwards of $300 or a significant percentage of savings for multiple years. At best, services charging those rates are grossly over-charging home-owners; at worst, some such services—i.e., any service whose solicitations look like official government notices or any service stating there will be a guaranteed reduction of property taxes of a stated amount—are scams which are breaking the law.
Easytaxfix.com may offer the best solution to homeowners. At no cost, a homeowner can enter his/her home address to see if it may be worthwhile to file an appeal. If it is, for $49.99 the homeowner can select among 30 valid comparable properties to customize the property’s valuation. The service then automatically generates a filled-out “Request For Informal Assessment Review” application and the valuation documentation required. The homeowner simply signs it and sends it in to the Assessor address, which the site provides. All this takes about five minutes.
[1] Trulia website
[2] Zillow, Prospective McCain Voters More Bullish on Own Home's Value, According to Zillow®Q3 Homeowner Confidence Survey, October 29, 2008.
[3] San Diego Informal Appeal Form, 2009.
[4] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
[5] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
Summary:
Approximately one out of every three homes is currently over-assessed in San Diego for the 2009/2010 property tax year. With approximately 886,000 residential properties in San Diego, this means over 265,000 homeowners are potentially over-assessed and will overpay on their property taxes if there is no change to their assessment. The average annual property tax savings an over-assessed San Diego homeowner can achieve by successfully appealing their assessment is approximately $1,101 annually; this represents a property tax savings of approximately 32%. For homes assessed at more than $500,000, 54% of homes are over-assessed; for homes purchased after 2001, 64% of homes are over-assessed.
Study Results:
MethodologyUsing tax assessment and sales data sourced from San Diego County, EasyTaxFix.com individually analyzed over 767,000 San Diego properties to come up with its statistics—i.e., all properties with enough characteristics for the EasyTaxFix.com AVM (automated valuation model). Actual property assessments were compared to an estimated market value as of San Diego’s “valuation date” of January 1, 2009, and updated to be based on three sales of comparable homes sold between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009—the time-frame recommended by the County Assessor’s office on which to base the 2009/10 informal appeal. Savings are calculated at 1% of the difference between actual assessment value and estimated market value, as this is a conservative estimate of county-wide property tax rates.
County Property Taxes and the Assessment AppealIn San Diego, property assessments are based initially on the purchase price and can increase a maximum of 2 percent per year per California’s 1978 Proposition 13 tax limitations. Property taxes are set at 1 percent of the purchase price. According to market data, as of January 1, 2009, median home values had fallen over 25% in the past year alone.[1]
The “Request For Informal Assessment Review” form is the first level of appeal in San Diego. The form is due to the Assessor by May 30th, 2009. Notices of value will be sent out in July, which will reflect any changes made to the homeowners assessment based on the Informal appeal. If the homeowner is still not satisfied with the assessment, he/she can further appeal by filing an “Application for Changed Assessment” sometime between July 2nd and November 30th.
Why do so few people appeal their assessment?Despite the 265,000 San Diego homeowners who EasyTaxFix.com estimates as being over-assessed, few homeowners have historically filed appeals. We speculate this is due to a variety of reasons. First, homeowners are typically unaware that property values are calculated based on the home’s market value or that the home’s assessment does not always automatically reassess downward with a market decline. Second, because a large percentage of homeowners pay their property taxes through escrow impound accounts managed by their mortgage company, property taxes are essentially buried in the mortgage payment and lose visibility. Third, according to a recent study by Zillow, there is a perception-reality gap: while over three quarters of homes in the US have lost value, nearly half of US homeowners do not think their homes’ value has decreased.[2] Lastly the process of filing a property tax appeal requires resources, time and research.
The actual process of filing the appeal in San Diego is not simple. The homeowner needs to download the proper form from the County website. This appeal form requires information about the homeowner’s property being appealed—i.e. parcel number, current assessment breakdowns, etc.[3] It also asks for the “Applicant’s Opinion of Value.” In the documentation accessible on the County Assessors website, specifications for how one should come to an “opinion of value” are provided. The County suggests the homeowner reference three comparable property sales.[4] The valuation date for the 2009 appeal is January 1, 2009. The County recommends a price-per-square foot valuation methodology but states that any number of qualitative factors (i.e. views, construction quality, amenities, etc.) can affect the valuation upward or downward.[5]
One complicating factor in the appeal process is that typically homeowners do not have ready access to detailed information about comparable sold properties. One might suggest that you go to the Internet to research your home’s valuation through Zillow or Trulia. However these sites typically (a) do not provide information regarding foreclosure and short sale properties that are probably best used to achieve the lowest valuation, (b) do not provide parcel numbers for properties—which the County recommends be included in your appeal, and (c) do not restrict comparables to County-determined date ranges.
There are property tax appeal services homeowners can utilize to help them file their property tax appeal. Some such services charge fees upwards of $300 or a significant percentage of savings for multiple years. At best, services charging those rates are grossly over-charging home-owners; at worst, some such services—i.e., any service whose solicitations look like official government notices or any service stating there will be a guaranteed reduction of property taxes of a stated amount—are scams which are breaking the law.
Easytaxfix.com may offer the best solution to homeowners. At no cost, a homeowner can enter his/her home address to see if it may be worthwhile to file an appeal. If it is, for $49.99 the homeowner can select among 30 valid comparable properties to customize the property’s valuation. The service then automatically generates a filled-out “Request For Informal Assessment Review” application and the valuation documentation required. The homeowner simply signs it and sends it in to the Assessor address, which the site provides. All this takes about five minutes.
[1] Trulia website
[2] Zillow, Prospective McCain Voters More Bullish on Own Home's Value, According to Zillow®Q3 Homeowner Confidence Survey, October 29, 2008.
[3] San Diego Informal Appeal Form, 2009.
[4] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
[5] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
Monday, April 20, 2009
20% of Orange County Homeowners are Overpaying on Property Taxes
20% of Orange County Homeowners are Overpaying on Property Taxes; April 30th deadline for the Request for Informal Assessment ReviewBy: Adam Berkson, President and Co-Founder EasyTaxFix.comApril 20, 2009
Summary:
Approximately one in every five homes is potentially over-assessed in Orange County for the 2009/2010 property tax year. With approximately 575,000 residential properties in Orange County, this means over 115,000 homeowners are potentially over-assessed and overpaying on their property taxes. The average annual property tax savings an over-assessed Orange County homeowner can achieve by successfully appealing their assessment is approximately $1,149 annually; this represents a property tax savings of approximately 33%. For homes assessed at more than $500,000 it appears a staggering 45% of homes are over-assessed.
MethodologyUsing tax assessment and sales data sourced from Orange County, EasyTaxFix.com individually analyzed over 447,000 Orange County properties to come up with its statistics—i.e., all properties with enough characteristics for the EasyTaxFix.com AVM (automated valuation model). Actual property assessments were compared to an estimated market value as of Orange County’s “valuation date” of January 1, 2009, and updated to be based on three sales of comparable homes sold between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009—the time-frame recommended by the County Assessor’s office on which to base the 2009/10 informal appeal. Savings are calculated at 1% of the difference between actual assessment value and estimated market value, as this is a conservative estimate of county-wide property tax rates.
County Property Taxes and the Assessment AppealIn Orange County, property assessments are based initially on the purchase price and can increase a maximum of 2 percent per year per California’s 1978 Proposition 13 tax limitations. Property taxes are set at 1 percent of the purchase price. According to market data, as of January 1, 2009, median home values had fallen over 20% from their peak in 2006.[1]
The “Request For Informal Assessment Review” form is the first level of appeal in Orange County. The form is due to the Assessor by April 30th, 2009. Notices of value will be sent out in July, which will reflect any changes made to the homeowners assessment based on the Informal appeal. If the homeowner is still not satisfied with the assessment, he/she can further appeal by filing an “Application for Changed Assessment” sometime between July 2nd and September 15th.
Why do so few people appeal their assessment?Despite the 115,000 Orange County homeowners who EasyTaxFix.com estimates as being over-assessed, few homeowners have historically filed appeals. We speculate this is due to a variety of reasons. First, homeowners are typically unaware that property values are calculated based on the home’s market value or that the home’s assessment does not always automatically reassess downward with a market decline. Second, because a large percentage of homeowners pay their property taxes through escrow impound accounts managed by their mortgage company, property taxes are essentially buried in the mortgage payment and lose visibility. Third, according to a recent study by Zillow, there is a perception-reality gap: while over three quarters of homes in the US have lost value, nearly half of US homeowners do not think their homes’ value has decreased.[2] Lastly the process of filing a property tax appeal requires resources, time and research.
The actual process of filing the appeal in Orange County is not simple. The homeowner needs to download the proper form from the County website. This appeal form requires information about the homeowner’s property being appealed—i.e. parcel number, current assessment breakdowns, etc.[3] It also asks for the “Applicant’s Opinion of Value.” In the documentation accessible on the County Assessors website, specifications for how one should come to an “opinion of value” are provided. The County suggests the homeowner reference three comparable property sales..[4] The valuation date for the 2009 appeal is January 1, 2009. The County recommends a price-per-square foot valuation methodology but states that any number of qualitative factors (i.e. views, construction quality, amenities, etc.) can affect the valuation upward or downward.[5]
One complicating factor in the appeal process is that typically homeowners do not have ready access to detailed information about comparable sold properties. One might suggest that you go to the Internet to research your home’s valuation through Zillow or Trulia. However these sites typically (a) do not provide information regarding foreclosure and short sale properties that are probably best used to achieve the lowest valuation, (b) do not provide parcel numbers for properties—which the County recommends be included in your appeal, and (c) do not restrict comparables to County-determined date ranges.
There are property tax appeal services homeowners can utilize to help them file their property tax appeal. Some such services charge fees upwards of $300 or a significant percentage of savings for multiple years. At best, services charging those rates are grossly over-charging home-owners; at worst, some such services—i.e., any service whose solicitations look like official government notices or any service stating there will be a guaranteed reduction of property taxes of a stated amount—are scams which are breaking the law.
Easytaxfix.com may offer the best solution to homeowners. At no cost, a homeowner can enter his/her home address to see if it may be worthwhile to file an appeal. If it is, for $39.99 the homeowner can select among 30 valid comparable properties to customize the property’s valuation. The service then automatically generates a filled-out “Request For Informal Assessment Review” application and the valuation documentation required. The homeowner simply signs it and sends it in to the Assessor address, which the site provides. All this takes about five minutes.
[1] Trulia website
[2] Zillow, Prospective McCain Voters More Bullish on Own Home's Value, According to Zillow®Q3 Homeowner Confidence Survey, October 29, 2008.
[3] Orange County Informal Appeal Form, 2009.
[4] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
[5] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
Summary:
Approximately one in every five homes is potentially over-assessed in Orange County for the 2009/2010 property tax year. With approximately 575,000 residential properties in Orange County, this means over 115,000 homeowners are potentially over-assessed and overpaying on their property taxes. The average annual property tax savings an over-assessed Orange County homeowner can achieve by successfully appealing their assessment is approximately $1,149 annually; this represents a property tax savings of approximately 33%. For homes assessed at more than $500,000 it appears a staggering 45% of homes are over-assessed.
MethodologyUsing tax assessment and sales data sourced from Orange County, EasyTaxFix.com individually analyzed over 447,000 Orange County properties to come up with its statistics—i.e., all properties with enough characteristics for the EasyTaxFix.com AVM (automated valuation model). Actual property assessments were compared to an estimated market value as of Orange County’s “valuation date” of January 1, 2009, and updated to be based on three sales of comparable homes sold between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009—the time-frame recommended by the County Assessor’s office on which to base the 2009/10 informal appeal. Savings are calculated at 1% of the difference between actual assessment value and estimated market value, as this is a conservative estimate of county-wide property tax rates.
County Property Taxes and the Assessment AppealIn Orange County, property assessments are based initially on the purchase price and can increase a maximum of 2 percent per year per California’s 1978 Proposition 13 tax limitations. Property taxes are set at 1 percent of the purchase price. According to market data, as of January 1, 2009, median home values had fallen over 20% from their peak in 2006.[1]
The “Request For Informal Assessment Review” form is the first level of appeal in Orange County. The form is due to the Assessor by April 30th, 2009. Notices of value will be sent out in July, which will reflect any changes made to the homeowners assessment based on the Informal appeal. If the homeowner is still not satisfied with the assessment, he/she can further appeal by filing an “Application for Changed Assessment” sometime between July 2nd and September 15th.
Why do so few people appeal their assessment?Despite the 115,000 Orange County homeowners who EasyTaxFix.com estimates as being over-assessed, few homeowners have historically filed appeals. We speculate this is due to a variety of reasons. First, homeowners are typically unaware that property values are calculated based on the home’s market value or that the home’s assessment does not always automatically reassess downward with a market decline. Second, because a large percentage of homeowners pay their property taxes through escrow impound accounts managed by their mortgage company, property taxes are essentially buried in the mortgage payment and lose visibility. Third, according to a recent study by Zillow, there is a perception-reality gap: while over three quarters of homes in the US have lost value, nearly half of US homeowners do not think their homes’ value has decreased.[2] Lastly the process of filing a property tax appeal requires resources, time and research.
The actual process of filing the appeal in Orange County is not simple. The homeowner needs to download the proper form from the County website. This appeal form requires information about the homeowner’s property being appealed—i.e. parcel number, current assessment breakdowns, etc.[3] It also asks for the “Applicant’s Opinion of Value.” In the documentation accessible on the County Assessors website, specifications for how one should come to an “opinion of value” are provided. The County suggests the homeowner reference three comparable property sales..[4] The valuation date for the 2009 appeal is January 1, 2009. The County recommends a price-per-square foot valuation methodology but states that any number of qualitative factors (i.e. views, construction quality, amenities, etc.) can affect the valuation upward or downward.[5]
One complicating factor in the appeal process is that typically homeowners do not have ready access to detailed information about comparable sold properties. One might suggest that you go to the Internet to research your home’s valuation through Zillow or Trulia. However these sites typically (a) do not provide information regarding foreclosure and short sale properties that are probably best used to achieve the lowest valuation, (b) do not provide parcel numbers for properties—which the County recommends be included in your appeal, and (c) do not restrict comparables to County-determined date ranges.
There are property tax appeal services homeowners can utilize to help them file their property tax appeal. Some such services charge fees upwards of $300 or a significant percentage of savings for multiple years. At best, services charging those rates are grossly over-charging home-owners; at worst, some such services—i.e., any service whose solicitations look like official government notices or any service stating there will be a guaranteed reduction of property taxes of a stated amount—are scams which are breaking the law.
Easytaxfix.com may offer the best solution to homeowners. At no cost, a homeowner can enter his/her home address to see if it may be worthwhile to file an appeal. If it is, for $39.99 the homeowner can select among 30 valid comparable properties to customize the property’s valuation. The service then automatically generates a filled-out “Request For Informal Assessment Review” application and the valuation documentation required. The homeowner simply signs it and sends it in to the Assessor address, which the site provides. All this takes about five minutes.
[1] Trulia website
[2] Zillow, Prospective McCain Voters More Bullish on Own Home's Value, According to Zillow®Q3 Homeowner Confidence Survey, October 29, 2008.
[3] Orange County Informal Appeal Form, 2009.
[4] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
[5] California State Board of Equalization, Residential Property Assessment Appeals- How to appeal the assessed value of residential properties- a guide for California property owners, Publication 30, 2003.
As Home Values Drop, Research Report Challenges
As many as one in five Orange County homes—an estimated 115,000 residential properties—are over-assessed.
“While property taxes are a necessary but major financial burden for homeowners, it is essential that they are assessed equitably,” said Adam Berkson, property tax analytics expert and founder of EasyTaxFix.com. “Our research, which is based on the county’s own tax assessment and sales data, shows that 20 percent of all Orange County residents are paying more in property taxes than is required, and should file an appeal. And we estimate that those homeowners are being over-taxed by an average of $1,149 per year.”
Berkson’s study found that over-assessment is more prevalent in certain municipalities – for instance, an estimated 56 percent of all homes in Placentia and 42.5 percent in Portola Hills are over-assessed.
The actual amount of tax savings to be realized also varies. Over-assessed homeowners filing a successful appeal in Laguna Beach should be able to realize average tax savings of 60.7 percent (of their current tax amount). Monarch Beach owners could realize savings of 56.8 percent.
Berkson said, “Proposition 13 protected homeowners from sharp property tax increases for many years. But as home values have now dropped, there hasn’t always been a sufficient downward adjustment in taxes. This is especially true for those who purchased homes during the recent housing boom—as such purchases entailed a new assessment which is very likely higher than the current market value.”
To file a property tax appeal in Orange County, a homeowner can file an Informal Assessment Review form. The deadline to file such a form is April 30. A “Notice of Value,” which will reflect any changes made to the assessment based on the Informal Assessment Review, will be sent to the homeowner in July. If the homeowner is still unsatisfied with the assessment, he/she can submit an Application for Changed Assessment between July 2 and September 15.
EasyTaxFix.com (www.EasyTaxFix.com) helps homeowners easily and quickly determine the likelihood and degree to which their homes are unfairly assessed. Owners can take that information to an appraiser and/or an attorney to launch an appeal, or simply download completed forms and detailed instructions on how to file an appeal directly with local and county tax offices. The latter service is available for a nominal $39.99 fee.
Orange County is the latest region served by EasyTaxFix.com. As part of a nationwide rollout, the online service is also available to homeowners in San Diego, Fresno, Phoenix, other Los Angeles-area counties and the entire state of New Jersey. The service is expected to be introduced in the coming months in Washington, Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York and Oregon.
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application.
“While property taxes are a necessary but major financial burden for homeowners, it is essential that they are assessed equitably,” said Adam Berkson, property tax analytics expert and founder of EasyTaxFix.com. “Our research, which is based on the county’s own tax assessment and sales data, shows that 20 percent of all Orange County residents are paying more in property taxes than is required, and should file an appeal. And we estimate that those homeowners are being over-taxed by an average of $1,149 per year.”
Berkson’s study found that over-assessment is more prevalent in certain municipalities – for instance, an estimated 56 percent of all homes in Placentia and 42.5 percent in Portola Hills are over-assessed.
The actual amount of tax savings to be realized also varies. Over-assessed homeowners filing a successful appeal in Laguna Beach should be able to realize average tax savings of 60.7 percent (of their current tax amount). Monarch Beach owners could realize savings of 56.8 percent.
Berkson said, “Proposition 13 protected homeowners from sharp property tax increases for many years. But as home values have now dropped, there hasn’t always been a sufficient downward adjustment in taxes. This is especially true for those who purchased homes during the recent housing boom—as such purchases entailed a new assessment which is very likely higher than the current market value.”
To file a property tax appeal in Orange County, a homeowner can file an Informal Assessment Review form. The deadline to file such a form is April 30. A “Notice of Value,” which will reflect any changes made to the assessment based on the Informal Assessment Review, will be sent to the homeowner in July. If the homeowner is still unsatisfied with the assessment, he/she can submit an Application for Changed Assessment between July 2 and September 15.
EasyTaxFix.com (www.EasyTaxFix.com) helps homeowners easily and quickly determine the likelihood and degree to which their homes are unfairly assessed. Owners can take that information to an appraiser and/or an attorney to launch an appeal, or simply download completed forms and detailed instructions on how to file an appeal directly with local and county tax offices. The latter service is available for a nominal $39.99 fee.
Orange County is the latest region served by EasyTaxFix.com. As part of a nationwide rollout, the online service is also available to homeowners in San Diego, Fresno, Phoenix, other Los Angeles-area counties and the entire state of New Jersey. The service is expected to be introduced in the coming months in Washington, Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York and Oregon.
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Online Property Tax Appeal Service Expanded to Phoenix, Arizona
PHOENIX, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective immediately, homeowners in Phoenix, Arizona can now take advantage of the do-it-yourself online tax appeal service, EasyTaxFix.com. The service expansion is the latest step in a nationwide rollout.
With the expansion announced today, an owner of a residential property in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona can obtain a free analysis of his or her home's current assessment. The analysis compares the property's tax assessment versus recent sales of comparable properties to determine whether the assessment is valued fairly. If the property is deemed to be over-assessed, the owner can, for a modest fee under $50, choose to download fully-completed forms and instructions to file a property tax appeal.
The expansion of EasyTaxFix.com into Phoenix follows successful introductions in San Diego and Fresno, along with the entire state of New Jersey. More major metro areas around the U.S. will be added to the EasyTaxFix.com service area to help homeowners during 2009.
EasyTaxFix.com is the brainchild of analytics expert Adam Berkson, who developed the platform after investigating and verifying an incorrect tax assessment on his own home in San Diego. His stated goal is to help millions of America's homeowners easily determine if their homes are being fairly taxed and to level the playing field between tax assessors and homeowners.
Berkson commented, "Some states and individual municipalities do a good job of treating property owners fairly and keeping inconsistencies and errors to a minimum. But others don't. Therefore it's essential that every owner check to make sure. Thousands of dollars may be at stake."
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application. EasyTaxFix.com is currently available in Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego, California, in Phoenix, Arizona, and statewide in New Jersey.
Web site: http://EasyTaxFix.com/
© 2009 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved
With the expansion announced today, an owner of a residential property in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona can obtain a free analysis of his or her home's current assessment. The analysis compares the property's tax assessment versus recent sales of comparable properties to determine whether the assessment is valued fairly. If the property is deemed to be over-assessed, the owner can, for a modest fee under $50, choose to download fully-completed forms and instructions to file a property tax appeal.
The expansion of EasyTaxFix.com into Phoenix follows successful introductions in San Diego and Fresno, along with the entire state of New Jersey. More major metro areas around the U.S. will be added to the EasyTaxFix.com service area to help homeowners during 2009.
EasyTaxFix.com is the brainchild of analytics expert Adam Berkson, who developed the platform after investigating and verifying an incorrect tax assessment on his own home in San Diego. His stated goal is to help millions of America's homeowners easily determine if their homes are being fairly taxed and to level the playing field between tax assessors and homeowners.
Berkson commented, "Some states and individual municipalities do a good job of treating property owners fairly and keeping inconsistencies and errors to a minimum. But others don't. Therefore it's essential that every owner check to make sure. Thousands of dollars may be at stake."
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application. EasyTaxFix.com is currently available in Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego, California, in Phoenix, Arizona, and statewide in New Jersey.
Web site: http://EasyTaxFix.com/
© 2009 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
April 1 Deadline Looming for Last-Minute New Jersey Property Tax Appeals
March 24, 2009
Appraisers Join EasyTaxFix.com in Urging Homeowners to Appeal Unfair Assessments
NEW YORK, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Property appraisers across New Jersey are gearing up for a flood of last-minute calls for help from residential homeowners seeking to reduce property taxes based on inaccurate assessments. The anticipated rush to meet the April 1 deadline for most municipalities comes after published findings that as many as 29 percent of New Jersey homes -- an estimated 722,000 residential properties -- appear to be assessed above the state's 15 percent over-assessment margin.
According to property tax analytics expert Adam Berkson of EasyTaxFix.com, an analysis of New Jersey tax records shows that the affected Garden State property owners will miss out on an average savings of $1,919.
Berkson said, "With all the attention being paid recently to New Jersey's property tax rebates, the question of whether the property tax assessments are accurate to begin with is not being addressed sufficiently. Every independent appraiser we have spoken to has validated our findings that nearly one-third of all homes are over-assessed."
"Over-assessment is rampant," said Gary Weiner of Burlington County-based Jersey Capital Appraiser Service. "The reason has to do with the fact that many reassessments were done at the peak of the market. Equalization rates are not being adjusted by assessors sufficiently to reflect the market conditions."
"In my opinion, the 29% over-assessment figure is accurate," added New Jersey- and New York-certified appraiser Albert Zaccone of CSR Appraisers, based in Bergen County. Homeowners who don't file before the April 1st deadline are simply losing the opportunity to potentially save thousands of dollars annually."
New Jersey homeowners can visit www.EasyTaxFix.com to quickly determine for free whether their property is over-assessed. The information provided can be used as the basis for an appeal. They can take this information to an appraiser for help in filing an appeal. Or, the completed tax appeal forms and detailed instructions on how to file directly with local and county tax offices can be downloaded for a nominal $49 fee.
EasyTaxFix.com is the only place on the World Wide Web where New Jersey property owners can download a completed property tax appeal application.
Most homeowners only have until April 1, 2009 to file this year's property tax appeal -- the deadline is May 1 in municipalities that have been reassessed this year.
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application. EasyTaxFix.com is currently available in San Diego and Fresno, California and statewide in New Jersey.
Appraisers Join EasyTaxFix.com in Urging Homeowners to Appeal Unfair Assessments
NEW YORK, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Property appraisers across New Jersey are gearing up for a flood of last-minute calls for help from residential homeowners seeking to reduce property taxes based on inaccurate assessments. The anticipated rush to meet the April 1 deadline for most municipalities comes after published findings that as many as 29 percent of New Jersey homes -- an estimated 722,000 residential properties -- appear to be assessed above the state's 15 percent over-assessment margin.
According to property tax analytics expert Adam Berkson of EasyTaxFix.com, an analysis of New Jersey tax records shows that the affected Garden State property owners will miss out on an average savings of $1,919.
Berkson said, "With all the attention being paid recently to New Jersey's property tax rebates, the question of whether the property tax assessments are accurate to begin with is not being addressed sufficiently. Every independent appraiser we have spoken to has validated our findings that nearly one-third of all homes are over-assessed."
"Over-assessment is rampant," said Gary Weiner of Burlington County-based Jersey Capital Appraiser Service. "The reason has to do with the fact that many reassessments were done at the peak of the market. Equalization rates are not being adjusted by assessors sufficiently to reflect the market conditions."
"In my opinion, the 29% over-assessment figure is accurate," added New Jersey- and New York-certified appraiser Albert Zaccone of CSR Appraisers, based in Bergen County. Homeowners who don't file before the April 1st deadline are simply losing the opportunity to potentially save thousands of dollars annually."
New Jersey homeowners can visit www.EasyTaxFix.com to quickly determine for free whether their property is over-assessed. The information provided can be used as the basis for an appeal. They can take this information to an appraiser for help in filing an appeal. Or, the completed tax appeal forms and detailed instructions on how to file directly with local and county tax offices can be downloaded for a nominal $49 fee.
EasyTaxFix.com is the only place on the World Wide Web where New Jersey property owners can download a completed property tax appeal application.
Most homeowners only have until April 1, 2009 to file this year's property tax appeal -- the deadline is May 1 in municipalities that have been reassessed this year.
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application. EasyTaxFix.com is currently available in San Diego and Fresno, California and statewide in New Jersey.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Owners of Jersey Shore Properties Can File Property Tax Appeals from Home
PHILADELPHIA, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Surprise! If you own a second home at the Jersey Shore, you may be paying too much in property taxes.
A property tax analytics expert looking at New Jersey tax records recently found that as many as 29 percent of New Jersey homes -- an estimated 722,000 residential properties -- appear to be assessed above the state's 15 percent over-assessment margin. And those Garden State property owners will miss out on an average savings of $1,919 if they fail to file their tax appeals by April 1 (May 1 in those towns that have just been reassessed).
Researcher Adam Berkson of EasyTaxFix.com has found that Ocean County has the highest percentage of residential properties that are over-assessed, at 45 percent. Cape May and Atlantic County also have high over-assessment incidence, at 40 and 35 percent, respectively.
According to Berkson's research, municipalities with a sizable percentage of properties over-assessed by more than the state's error margin include Ocean City (38 percent), Brigantine (44 percent), Avalon (47 percent) and Seaside Heights (44 percent). Over-assessments in the Wildwood municipalities range from 32 to 63 percent.
New Jersey property owners can determine whether their property is eligible for tax savings on EasyTaxFix.com. Users of the site can quickly determine for free whether their property is over-assessed by simply entering their address. The site instantly compares the property's market value to its tax assessed value. The information provided can be used as the basis for an appeal. If interested, for a nominal $49 fee, the homeowner can download completed appeal forms and detailed instructions on how to submit the appeal with local and county tax offices. EasyTaxFix.com is the only place on the World Wide Web where New Jersey property owners can download a completed property tax appeal application.
Berkson warned, "A lot of vacation property owners suspect that their property taxes are higher than they should be. And, in this market, there's a pretty good chance that they're right. With the tax appeal deadline looming, they need to move quickly. By using EasyTaxFix.com, they can save hours of research and avoid multiple long trips to local municipal and county tax offices."
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application. EasyTaxFix.com is currently available in San Diego and Fresno, California and statewide in New Jersey.
SOURCE EasyTaxFix.com
A property tax analytics expert looking at New Jersey tax records recently found that as many as 29 percent of New Jersey homes -- an estimated 722,000 residential properties -- appear to be assessed above the state's 15 percent over-assessment margin. And those Garden State property owners will miss out on an average savings of $1,919 if they fail to file their tax appeals by April 1 (May 1 in those towns that have just been reassessed).
Researcher Adam Berkson of EasyTaxFix.com has found that Ocean County has the highest percentage of residential properties that are over-assessed, at 45 percent. Cape May and Atlantic County also have high over-assessment incidence, at 40 and 35 percent, respectively.
According to Berkson's research, municipalities with a sizable percentage of properties over-assessed by more than the state's error margin include Ocean City (38 percent), Brigantine (44 percent), Avalon (47 percent) and Seaside Heights (44 percent). Over-assessments in the Wildwood municipalities range from 32 to 63 percent.
New Jersey property owners can determine whether their property is eligible for tax savings on EasyTaxFix.com. Users of the site can quickly determine for free whether their property is over-assessed by simply entering their address. The site instantly compares the property's market value to its tax assessed value. The information provided can be used as the basis for an appeal. If interested, for a nominal $49 fee, the homeowner can download completed appeal forms and detailed instructions on how to submit the appeal with local and county tax offices. EasyTaxFix.com is the only place on the World Wide Web where New Jersey property owners can download a completed property tax appeal application.
Berkson warned, "A lot of vacation property owners suspect that their property taxes are higher than they should be. And, in this market, there's a pretty good chance that they're right. With the tax appeal deadline looming, they need to move quickly. By using EasyTaxFix.com, they can save hours of research and avoid multiple long trips to local municipal and county tax offices."
ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM
EasyTaxFix.com was started in 2008 to assist homeowners with property tax appeals. The user-friendly, web-based service uses an automated valuation methodology for analyzing individual home values versus their tax assessed values. If an individual homeowner is found to be over-assessed, the site offers a wizard to assist homeowners in completing their property tax appeal application. EasyTaxFix.com is currently available in San Diego and Fresno, California and statewide in New Jersey.
SOURCE EasyTaxFix.com
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