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Deadline for appealing your property tax is November 30, 2011

Do not pay for this service; there are many scammers out there that charge HUNDREDS of dollars for this. Many professional customer service real estate brokers will help you gather the necessary data for free or you can do this on your own.

You can file the form (below) online or by printing out the form below by going here 2011-decline-in-value-review-application

If you have any questions on this and you live in the areas shown in the home search sections below, then let me know I will help you.

Also at the site above, you may find other forms helpful to your property tax situation. Let me know if you have any questions and again, I will do my best to help.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when it comes to making an appeal to lower your property taxes.

Homeowners should keep in mind that property taxes do not always correspond with home values, because local governments typically don’t measure values every year and some have limits on annual property-tax increases.
As a result, current property taxes might reflect the home’s value when the market was healthier. According to the Congressional Budget Office, property-tax adjustments lag behind changes in home prices by an average of three years.
Although homeowners cannot change their property-tax rate, which is set by the local government, homeowners can get their assessment lowered if they appeal to their local assessor.
One key to a successful appeal is fact checking the assessor’s work. About half of all successful appeals come from homeowners pointing out an error in the assessor’s description of the home, according to one property tax expert.
During the appeal process, which is similar to a less-formal court hearing, homeowners may present their case to several local officials or representatives. The simplest way to convince officials that a property has been incorrectly valued is to provide evidence of the sales price of homes that are comparable to the property being discussed. This should include square footage, amenities, and neighborhood characteristics. Sale documents and photos of the property in question, as well as the comparable properties also should be brought in.
Homeowners who have made improvements or substantial changes to the property should be cautious about appealing an assessment though, as it could have negative effects and actually increase the property’s value and, in turn, the property taxes.