Scorpions, rattlesnakes and #@%$*&! property taxes

[73ss454]

REW be nice, we all have to pay our fair share. (heh)

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by 73ss454 REW be nice, we all have to pay our fair share. (heh)

Translation: Misery loves company...

[73ss454]

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Originally Posted by REWahoo Translation: Misery loves company...

That's one thing about you, you catch on quick.

[ziggy29]

My appraisal notice -- also in Texas and not all that far away from REW -- also just came a few days ago. Our assessed value is up 4.7% from last year. I haven't decided whether to challenge it or not.

It's amazing how assessed values can keep rising when housing is supposed to be in the tank. Granted, the housing market in TX isn't nearly as bad as on the coasts, but still...

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by ziggy29 It's amazing how assessed values can keep rising when housing is supposed to be in the tank. Granted, the housing market in TX isn't nearly as bad as on the coasts, but still...

We are having the same problem here. Our tax assessor sent out a letter saying to expect higher taxes, and claiming that property values here have risen substantially. Yeah, right? I'd really love to get the same price for my house that I could have received in 2005, and I have repaired almost all the hurricane damage.

But, overall our taxes are very low so I have no complaints (other than basing a tax increase on something illogical). I paid only $550.81 property taxes for my median priced house last year, which was maybe half of what I paid before Katrina. They lowered the appraisals in flooded areas en masse to help returning residents. It will be interesting to see how high our taxes become this December.

[Notmuchlonger]

Guess I wont complain about California property tax after reading these issues.

[ziggy29]

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Originally Posted by Notmuchlonger Guess I wont complain about California property tax after reading these issues.

The only people who have to complain about property taxes in CA, thanks to Prop 13, are those who buy a home and pay 4x as much tax as their neighbor who lived in a nearly identical home for 30 years.

When I bought my small condo there in 1989 -- my first home -- I paid nearly twice as much in property tax as my parents who had a detached 4/2 SFR worth almost 3x as much as my condo.

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by Notmuchlonger Guess I wont complain about California property tax after reading these issues.

Go ahead! Complain away... I think that if you are a new resident in California, you probably have to pay more property taxes than others.

[Dawg52]

Wahoo,

You have an RV, correct? Maybe it's time to become 'George & Tioga II'. Sell everything and go mobile. Camp in the wild and live off the fat of the land. I hear rattlesnakes taste like chicken.

I built a house about 5 miles outside the city limits in a new subdivision a few years ago. Low and behold the city decided to invite us in the the city through annexation. Been tied up in the courts for a few years but the city will win. Means an automatic 50% increase in taxes. Property values have been adjusted upward in the mean time as well. Glad I sold mine when I did. In a subdivision of around 75 houses, 18 are for sale right now. I'm living in my aunt's small old house. Cheap cheap cheap living.

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by Dawg52 Wahoo, You have an RV, correct? Maybe it's time to become 'George & Tioga II'. Sell everything and go mobile. Camp in the wild and live off the fat of the land. I hear rattlesnakes taste like chicken.

If I didn't already know you were bachelor, this would have been a dead giveaway.... DW does not share my sense of adventure and would definitely not be willing to give up her stick built house.

Speaking of rattlesnakes, did anyone see "Dirty Jobs" last night? A guy working on one of those huge wind generators was bitten on the hand by a rattler - 250 feet above ground. Man, can those things fly?

[OAG]

Last weekend in the Sunday paper (Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio) there was about a full page article (and several smaller related ones) that basically said do not expect any RE tax relief on the 2008 assessments due to falling prices. They even said that they do not even count the Foreclosures and "walk aways" in the process - which causes NO downward impact on your assessment. What a system - cut programs, reduce expenses, LWIYM (just within your means).

[Leonidas]

I'm right with you REW, mine's up 10% again this year.

You can thank Dan Patrick for helping to at least get a 10% cap. He tried to add an amendment to make it 5% but it didn't get out of committee.

Perhaps another Texan could answer a question. A speaker on a radio program the other day was talking about this issue, and he said that the state was pressuring the appraisal districts to really boost appraisals across the board. Why would the state care, we don't pay a state RE tax, why would it matter?

[ziggy29]

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Originally Posted by Leonidas Perhaps another Texan could answer a question. A speaker on a radio program the other day was talking about this issue, and he said that the state was pressuring the appraisal districts to really boost appraisals across the board. Why would the state care, we don't pay a state RE tax, why would it matter?

I suspect they figure that the more they can jack up local city, county and school taxes by inflating appraisals, the less these jurisdictions would scream poverty and demand aid from Austin. I suspect that's particularly true for the school taxes. I doubt the lege wants a lot of reports about "starving schools" screaming to Austin for help. So better to inflate their coffers with bloated assessments.

Assuming this speaker is factual, anyway.

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by ziggy29 I suspect they figure that the more they can jack up local city, county and school taxes by inflating appraisals, the less these jurisdictions would scream poverty and demand aid from Austin. I suspect that's particularly true for the school taxes. I doubt the lege wants a lot of reports about "starving schools" screaming to Austin for help. So better to inflate their coffers with bloated assessments.

This would be my guess as well. What politician wants to defend the failed property tax relief bill they helped pass in 2005 come re-election time?

[cute fuzzy bunny]

God bless californias prop 13. Not only are my property taxes restricted to an inflationary increase, now that property values are down I can actually apply for a reduction annually to match area comps.

So I'll be enjoying a small property tax cut for at least the next year or two or three or...?

Income taxes arent too bad unless you're a high earner. Sales tax around 8% stinks though.

[ziggy29]

Speaking of taxes, I took the liberty of looking at the assessments for my neighbors. I'm getting ripped.

My assessed value on the structure (not including the land) is $66.59 per square foot.

My next door neighbor's home was assessed at $17.15 per square foot.

And the house beyond that? $40.41 per square foot. In fact, this house has 1760 square feet versus 1167 for mine, and it's appraised lower!

The next door neighbor on the other side of me? $38.99.

In fact, nothing in the vicinity seems to be assessed at more than $46 per square foot...except for my house.

Truth be told, I think my appraisal is close to market value. But the others are ridiculously and insanely low. They have stuff appraised at $50K or less that would likely sell for close to $100K or even more.

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by ziggy29 Speaking of taxes, I took the liberty of looking at the assessments for my neighbors. I'm getting ripped. My assessed value on the structure (not including the land) is $66.59 per square foot. My next door neighbor's home was assessed at $17.15 per square foot. And the house beyond that? $40.41 per square foot. In fact, this house has 1760 square feet versus 1167 for mine, and it's appraised lower! The next door neighbor on the other side of me? $38.99. In fact, nothing in the vicinity seems to be assessed at more than $46 per square foot...except for my house. Truth be told, I think my appraisal is close to market value. But the others are ridiculously and insanely low. They have stuff appraised at $50K or less that would likely sell for close to $100K or even more.

I made similar observations about my assessment during the first few years I owned my house. But now (after 6 years), mine is lower than some others, who have bought more recently.

[REWahoo]

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Originally Posted by ziggy29 Speaking of taxes, I took the liberty of looking at the assessments for my neighbors. I'm getting ripped.

Man, those hangovers are a real pain...

Oh, you mean ripped as in "off"! Yep, sounds like you've got some great ammunition for a protest. You'll either get your appraisal lowered or your neighbors increased - maybe both!

I'm envious of you living in one of those progressive counties with information available online. Out here in the 19th century we still have to go to the tax office over at the county seat to get that kind of information. It's a long ride for the horses in this heat, too....

[W2R]

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Originally Posted by REWahoo Out here in the 19th century we still have to go to the tax office over at the county seat to get that kind of information. It's a long ride for the horses in this heat, too....

Not to mention the fire ants, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and tornados... probably baby-eating coyotes, too.

[ziggy29]

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Originally Posted by REWahoo Man, those hangovers are a real pain... Oh, you mean ripped as in "off"! Yep, sounds like you've got some great ammunition for a protest. You'll either get your appraisal lowered or your neighbors increased - maybe both!

I'd like to think I've got them. Here's a spreadsheet comparing my appraisal with eight homes directly surrounding me.

Bend Over!

As you can see, if this is allowed to stick, I'm getting screwed.