Real Estate & Investing

evan asked:


[...] If you are concerned about any of the statements on your property tax bill, especially the property tax assessment value, you might want to consult with a property tax attorney. Although you can do the process yourself, you may feel overwhelmed by the legalities and find it necessary to have help. You can look in your local phone book under attorney’s ad then look for a lawyer that specializes in property tax issues. You may need to talk to a few attorneys before you find one that can help you with your case.

The property tax attorney can also help you if you owe delinquent property taxes. They can help you save your property from a property tax auction. Whether you need an attorney for fighting a high assessment value or for help establishing a payment plane to pay delinquent taxes, you should find one that specializes in these areas. A divorce lawyer or a estate lawyer may not be the best choice in this case. You need someone that understands the tax laws, and has dealt with property tax issues. This will benefit you more than you could understand. Someone that knows the tax laws is more qualified.

Some people may feel this is extreme for lowering your tax liability, but when you consider the years of taxes paid at a higher assessment rate, you are better off paying an attorney with knowledge and a proven record of accomplishment than paying several thousand dollars over the course of many years. Property assessments are not done every year and when they are done, they very rarely go down, but rather they go up. This will cause problems if you decide to sell your property. Many people look for the assessed value as well as the fair market value.

If you need a property tax attorney, you will find that they are qualified in most areas of the laws governing taxes. You may use a tax attorney to reduce your tax liability on county taxes due, if your property is tax exempt and the bill says that is not. You can also use a property tax attorney if you find your tax bill states your home is a two family home rather than a single family home. This matters because, you are suppose to have less tax liability for a single-family home than a two family home.

The property tax attorney will need all the available documents. The attorney will more than likely ask a private company to do another assessment of the property. This just ensures that you have grounds for an appeal. If the private company finds the assessment to be accurate, you might need to reconsider your appeal. [...]

Locateappraisers asked:


When you need a home appraiser, you may not want to spend much time on the process initially. But it is important that you do some work in selecting an appraiser because they will be the person to decide the value of the home you are selling or the home you are buying. In some cases, the bank will select the appraiser, but you will have a chance to hire an independent appraiser to be on the same side. Here are some ways to locate and select a property appraiser in Orange County.

What You Need

Before starting to look for the right property appraiser in Orange County, you need to figure out who will be right for your deal. If the bank says its OK for you to help them choose the appraiser, they could make you adhere to guidelines, like that the appraiser will have to meet certain qualifications or be located in a certain area. Check with the lender to see what guidelines are needed for the appraiser to meet before you begin your search.

Where to Look for a Property Appraiser

The first place to look for a property appraiser is the local phone book. There should be listings for ‘appraisers’ and ‘property appraisers’, which makes it easy. You will see in those listing both single appraisers and companies. If you choose one over the other, that’s up to you. But it’s important to remember that companies have more solid background of qualifications and training.

You can also check with local banks that you have used in the past to see if they can recommend property appraisers. They are often more willing to give this information to account holders, but if you ask, they will often share their list.

The internet is another good place to go for property appraiser listings. You will get many, many more names, which makes it pretty tricky in separating legitimate appraisers from ones who aren’t. Make a list of the appraisers you find and begin the process of elimination there.

Getting the Right Answers from the Right Appraiser

When you have gotten together a list of property appraisers, they can all look the same. To find out which are different — and best — ask these questions.

* How long have you been in business? For you, the longer the better.

* What kind of training and certifications do you have? Your appraisal should be licensed, bonded and certified.

* When are you available? Your appraiser should be able to make your appointment. If they can’t, pick someone else.

You also need to get contact information from these appraisers as well as looking into what the Better Business Bureau has to say about complaints to these businesses.