So Cal Real Estate News

It's your money!

Yesterday I gave you detailed information about filing to get your Orange County, CA Property Tax reduced.

Since informal appeals for the 2009-2010 tax year must be postmarked today, here’s the instant version:

3 Quick steps to find out if you should file:

1. Do you own Orange County, California real estate that was purchased or reassessed (i.e., change in ownership) between 1/1/2001 and 1/1/2008? (If so, go to step 2, if not, there’s probably no need to file an appeal.)
2. Click here for a link to the Orange County Assessor’s Office that will tell you if your Orange County Property is scheduled for an automatic review this year. All you need is the property address, and the info is then just 2 clicks away. If you’re scheduled for an automatic review, you’re probably fine, but you can file an informal review (see below for how) if you want to make sure they have your comparable sales data. If you’re not scheduled for an automatic review and you bought between 1/1/01 (or maybe 2002) and 1/1/08, go to step 3.
3. Go to EasyTaxFix.com, complete step 1 only to find out what, if any, they estimate your likely savings at if you do appeal. Again, all you need is the property’s address, and it’s free, but their info isn’t always that accurate. For example, they weren’t even close my current tax assessment–if you don’t remember, look at last year’s tax bill. If your estimated savings aren’t worth the hassle, skip it. If they are, proceed to the next section before closing the window on your computer

Options on how to file an Informal Appeal for OC property:

You have several choices now, but your paperwork needs to be postmarked today, Thursday, April 30:

1. $40 option (fastest & cheapest–but do you get what you pay for?): Click the “apply now” box on your computer screen that’s still open from step 3 above and for $40.00 EasyTaxFix.com’s computer will prepare the appeal (including the comparable sales) and give you instructions. All you have to do is pay, print, sign, and get into today’s mail.
2. $65 option (if you’re not sure the appeal’s needed or don’t want to go with the cheapest option): Go to CaPropertyTaxSavers.com, click on “order your kit” on the right, and they’ll essentially do the same thing, but supposedly using some additional data. I’d recommend you first click the “Quick Analysis” box, which will give you their computer’s assessment of what you’ll save on your taxes. It only costs $11, and that will be applied to the cost of your $65 personalized tax appeal kit.
3. Free option for do-it-yourselfers with free time today: Click here for a link to a pdf file of the one page informal appeal form from the Orange County Assessor. Complete, sign, & mail to the address given, with today’s postmark (4/30/09). They request 3 comparable sales, but the Assessor was quoted in the Register as saying they’ll process the form with or without your comparables. At this late date, I’d just let them do the work. For more on options for obtaining comparables, see my post from yesterday.

There it is. As simple and easy as I can make it.

You’re welcome! Just remember which Realtor took care of you when you or a friend need to buy or sell. Dave Emerson, 562.822.7653. Go ahead–put it in your cell under “Realtor.”

And thank you!

Tags: decline in value, property tax appeals

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 11:21 am and is filed under Home Owner Tips, Los Alamitos, Real Estate 101. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.