Life is Like a Property Tax Assessment: You Gotta Check It!

Mama Always Said...

Mama always said 'Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you're gonna get.' Well buyin' a house is kinda like that too but instead of chocolates you get property taxes! And just like that box you gotta check what's inside. A fella named Sal Cataldo a real estate lawyer says when you buy a house you get a whole bunch of papers. These papers tell you stuff like how old the house is and if it has any problems. It's important to look at these papers because believe it or not they can help you save money on your property taxes.

Run Forrest Run...To Check Your Taxes!

Now why is this important? Well property taxes are like Jenny...always changin'. They go up and down like a see saw. A house sale usually means they gonna look at your taxes again but how often they do that depends on where you live. Some places do it every year others not so much. But it's like Lieutenant Dan always said 'Take care of your feet!' You gotta take care of your taxes too or they might sneak up on ya!

Property Taxes: Rising Like Bubba Gump Shrimp Prices!

These days property taxes are goin' up faster than Bubba could peel shrimp! A report said the average property tax bill in the US was $3,500 which is a whole lotta shrimp money! And in some places like New York City it's even higher. So just like when Bubba told me all the ways to cook shrimp you gotta be smart about your property taxes.

Are You Over Assessed? Maybe You Are Maybe You Ain't!

Sometimes they might think your house is bigger or has more bathrooms than it really does. A fella named Pete Sepp says it's not uncommon for properties to be over assessed. That means you're payin' more taxes than you should be! He says it pays to check just like it pays to check if you got all your shrimp on the boat.

Appeal Time: Show 'Em What You Got!

If you think they messed up your assessment you can appeal it. It's like playin' ping pong – you gotta hit the ball back! And if you win you could save money for years to come. Some folks could save over $500 a year! That's a whole lotta Dr. Pepper I tell you what!

And That's All I Have to Say About That...

So remember what Mama said and check your property tax assessment. It might save you some money and that's always a good thing. Just like bein' friends with Lieutenant Dan you never know what kinda good fortune might come your way! And that's all I have to say about that.