✅ Property Taxes

• When values go up? → Instant increase.

• When values go down? → You gotta demand it.

💥 The Best Advice to Lower Property Taxes:

✅ 1. Understand Your Assessment

• Get a copy of your property tax assessment notice every time it's issued.

• Read it carefully — does it list:

  • The correct square footage?

  • The right number of bedrooms and bathrooms?

  • Accurate lot size?

  • Any additions you never did?

• Mistakes happen a lot. Counties have been known to overstate improvements or miss exemptions.

• ✅ 2. Apply for Every Exemption You Qualify For

• This is often the most overlooked step.

• Common exemptions:

  • Homestead Exemption (Primary residence)

  • Senior Citizen Exemption

  • Veteran Exemption

  • Disability Exemption

  • Low-Income or Circuit Breaker Credits

• These can take thousands off your taxable value before the rate is even applied.

✅ 3. Compare with Your Neighbors (Comparable Sales)

• Go snooping (legally) — find out what similar homes near you are assessed at.

• If your house is assessed at $400K, and the near-identical house next door is assessed at $350K, you’ve got a good reason to appeal.

✅ 4. Appeal the Assessment

• Don’t be shy!

• Even if you think “They won’t listen,” they actually do reduce taxes often if you present good evidence.

• Use:

  • Recent comparable sales.

  • Photographs of any damage or needed repairs.

  • Proof of assessment errors.

  • Formal appraisals (if you have one).

• You’ll usually have to submit a form and maybe attend a simple hearing — it's often less scary than it sounds.

✅ 5. Watch for Market Trends

• If the market drops, or homes in your area are selling for less, this is your time to file for reassessment.

• Don’t wait for the city or county to do it for you — you need to demand the adjustment.

✅ 6. Be Ready to Repeat

• Property taxes are not a one-time fight.

• Every assessment cycle, you should recheck, re-exempt, and reappeal if needed.

• You don't want to be the one house on the block paying double because you weren't watching.

✅ 7. Keep It Clean Legally

• Don’t ever fudge information.

• But do use every legal exemption and appeal route to your advantage — the system was made to be appealed.

🟣 Golden Rule:

“Property tax is a negotiable number if you understand the game.”