With the housing market spiraling out of control, due to massive amounts of foreclosures, many people find out that their property taxes don’t speak the same language.  Some families find themselves paying the same amount as they did when they first moved in. But, why is that? Although finding out what the deal is won’t be an easy task, contact your county tax office and see what information you can find out. But if this process seems to take a little time, here are a few tips you can use to decrease your property taxes:

 ************************

1. Get Your Home Appraised – If your local assessors office doesn’t offer appraisal services, contact a independent property appraiser. Your appraiser will come to your home and scout the premises. He/She will survey the neighborhood, within a few miles radius, and find out the values of other homes comparable to yours. Once this process is complete, the appraiser will send you a full report and let you know exactly what your home is valued at.

2. Find Out the Value of Other Homes In Your Neighborhood – This can coincide with having your property appraised. But, if you don’t have the money to dish out for an appraiser, you can always go online and look up other property values. Websites, such as Zillow and Cyberhomes, allow you to conduct a search of comparable homes in your neighborhood.

3. File An Appeal – Once you’ve gathered enough information and you are ready to challenge your property tax bill, file a formal appeal with the local assessors office.  Some counties will allow only a few months after the first of the year, to file your appeal. Contact the office to see what items you will need to submit. Provide all the documentation requested and wait. If the assessors office does not contact you prior to receiving your annual tax bill, your potential reduction will be listed on your bill.  If there was an issue with your appeal, contact the office to find out the reason for the rejection.