I need info on fighting property taxes

**nodmicks** · 08-23-2010, 08:26 AM

Last year or tax value went up 33K. I thought it honestly was close to the fair value as we had gotten away without a change in years. The state I live in didn't think our townships tax accessor was taxing our township values fairly so every home in our township redone this summer. This is the first time since we bought the home in 97 that we have ever had someone inside the home for this purpose.

I was not here when the gentleman came. My teens were here. They said he didn't even go in the bedrooms upstairs or look in the basement.

They raised the value for taxes $45K higher!!!!!!! $5800 of it was the raise in land value on the 10 acres. The rest was the house value. The only improvement we really made was the new windows last summer and those were in the 33k it went up last year!

We live in an farm house on 10 acres. It is over 150 years old. We have a small unusable basement due to the water issues. We have a crappy drywall job(you can see every seam). We need new flooring on the second floor. Nothing is fancy thought it is very comfy! The barn needs paint badly and a few repairs. No way in this economy did the value go up 45K from last year.

We have a buddy in building that visited last weekend. He said not way is it worth what they are saying. I tried looking up current selling properties in our township and there are none. These are all farmers and Amish out here and homes stay in the family. I'm not sure where I find comparable properties.

I did make an appointment for the open book the first week in Sept. I will measure every room of the house and take that with me.

Besides that does anyone have any idea how to proceed? I really hope the property is worth what they are saying but I'm really iffy!

I also need to find out what the tax basis is. Someone said to find out if they go by a percentage of market value etc. Where do I find this info?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

**NikoSan999** · 08-23-2010, 08:33 AM

Here you could go to the tax appraisers office and make someone talk to you. Online also but of course no one to answer questions.

Am I understanding you right and that's gone up 78 thousand in the last two years total or 45 period. I would have serious doubts on either. But not sure of where you live.

**lparker** · 08-23-2010, 08:43 AM

You are going to have to get together with your neighbors and compare numbers. You might have to go to the town board en mass to complain. Other than that, the assessor should have the info you need to file a complaint.

**nodmicks** · 08-23-2010, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by NikoSan999

Here you could go to the tax appraisers office and make someone talk to you. Online also but of course no one to answer questions.

Am I understanding you right and that's gone up 78 thousand in the last two years total or 45 period. I would have serious doubts on either. But not sure of where you live.

Yep 78k in 2 years. I am in a little tiny township in rural WI. This is an old falling apart farm house. The appraisers were hired by the state and are not local. However they will be at the open book meeting i have an appt at.

**nodmicks** · 08-23-2010, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by lparker

You are going to have to get together with your neighbors and compare numbers. You might have to go to the town board en mass to complain. Other than that, the assessor should have the info you need to file a complaint.

All my neighbors are actually farmers with huge spreads ( Amish and regular farmers) that are only taxed on land use value not the actual home. The few within a few miles that are not farmers are new monster sizes log homes not 150+ year old homes. I'm guessing I need to find others with an old farm house on smaller plots some how? Our whole township is huge farms.

I do have an appt to see all the info. Last year when they went up our little berg made all the news channels as the raises were huge but in all honesty they were fair because the township accessor had the values really low. For 12 years ours were less than what we originally paid. Thats why the state cut in and ordered every house re assessed by a private company. However these current raises seem way way high

**NikoSan999** · 08-23-2010, 08:58 AM

I'm betting they're stuffing the coffers with tax money. Probably for raises, bonuses and such. It's that time of the year here.

I don't care where you are, your value didn't go up 78 thousand. I know you're having a tuff, really tuff time right now. It's a shame you can't have a personal appraisal done yourself. Do you know anyone?

Man, that's a crock and they're ripping off the taxpayers on this one. Get ALL your friends together to go to the meeting, get on the phone and get more. Bombard their a$$es at that meeting. Absolutely no way 78 thousand in todays time especially with last year and todays times.

**NikoSan999** · 08-23-2010, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by nodmicks

All my neighbors are actually farmers with huge spreads ( Amish and regular farmers) that are only taxed on land use value not the actual home. The few within a few miles that are not farmers are new monster sizes log homes not 150+ year old homes. I'm guessing I need to find others with an old farm house on smaller plots some how?

Take a long leisurely drive in a circle and go to the door.

Appraisals are done within a 3 mile radius and of SIMILAR houses...3 bedroom...2 car garage...5 acres...have to be similar...

There IS a website or two ( I've been on them ) that does the comparisons but can't remember the sites. If I think of them I'll post them...

But it is 3 mile radius of your home...

**nodmicks** · 08-23-2010, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by NikoSan999

I'm betting they're stuffing the coffers with tax money. Probably for raises, bonuses and such. It's that time of the year here.

I don't care where you are, your value didn't go up 78 thousand. I know you're having a tuff, really tuff time right now. It's a shame you can't have a personal appraisal done yourself. Do you know anyone?

Man, that's a crock and they're ripping off the taxpayers on this one. Get ALL your friends together to go to the meeting, get on the phone and get more. Bombard their a$$es at that meeting. Absolutely no way 78 thousand in todays time especially with last year and todays times.

I think you are right on the $ Niko! I think last years assesment was 100% fair because we were really undervalued. It was less than what we paid but this is ridiculous. I could pay the $150 for an appraiser and will if going to the open book doesn't solve it. I am hoping they have the number of bedrooms etc wrong or something easy.

I had to laugh a bit because they are making us make appointments to go to the open book. Not just stop in. Do you think they are expecting a few folks? Our whole township is only about 90 homes (all rural).

I say no way too!!!!! Out tax basis in the township is already higher than the little town we surround! I tried to get a hold of my closest neighbor this weekend even though their home is worth way more to ask how his was. They were not home. I need his check for renting our hay field too in case we lost our ag claim. Humm I may see buying beef cows in our future if we lost it

**NikoSan999** · 08-23-2010, 09:21 AM

They're making appointments to keep a crowd from forming and making a scene. They figure they can appease one person at a time better than half dozen.

**McD** · 08-23-2010, 10:45 AM

When we receive notice regarding our home value appraisal from the county, it also gives instructions on how we can appeal their decision. Did your notice give any instructions?

**mek42** · 08-23-2010, 11:10 AM

I think you can also get a free comp report by going to a realtor and mentioning you're thinking about moving (which may well be the case if taxes stay this crazy). This report has some fancy name that I don't remember offhand.

**Kitchen Mama** · 08-23-2010, 11:32 AM

I have in-laws that live in WI. and the taxes there are unbeleivable.
What are your actual tax bill as opposed to what the asseted value of the propery? I'm a little unclear on what your actual tax bill is.

**lparker** · 08-23-2010, 01:28 PM

A little off-the-wall speculation, conspiracy theory stuff...............

Is there maybe some secret mineral resource in your township that some state politician knows about??? Drive property value/taxes up , get more defaults, buy property for cheap at tax auctions..................

**frugalfranny** · 08-23-2010, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by nodmicks

I tried looking up current selling properties in our township and there are none. I'm not sure where I find comparable properties.

Besides that does anyone have any idea how to proceed?

I also need to find out what the tax basis is. Someone said to find out if they go by a percentage of market value etc. Where do I find this info?

I would guess that each area might be a little different..........but...that said:

You should be able to ask the assessor what they based the new taxes on.........(I can do this via email)..........this will tell you if they based it on 'new sales'.......or improvements you have made. (usually both) Your new tax bill should have info to start this........email address or phone number. AND.......if new sales, ASK FOR THE INFO (they SHOULD give you the addresses they used)......this will tell you if the comparison was anywhere near the equivalent of your house.........if not, good points for objections.

The tax basis should be on your last property tax bill.......(mine is)...it will give a percentage for each item........schools, fire, etc. But this only tell you what % is going for each item, of your total bill.....so not sure that I understood you correctly here.

If you know ANYONE that is in real estate they can pull up info to give you too.........for selling prices.

ALSO.........go online (at least I can here) and use your county assessors web tax site to check on other rates. I can put in any address and get the property tax info for that address........gives lots of info......amt. of $, if paid, size of home, etc.

This is all research.........and according to what you find out can be used to fight the amt., if you find it to be out of line.

GOOD LUCK.........they are sneaky......

I had been undervalued for years (lazy assessor??).....but when the co. needed some money they went in and re-valued a lot of homes in my area............based on the value of the property BEFORE the economy went TU..........of course there was no way to fight it........it was based on the selling prices of the homes the YEAR BEFORE!!

btw........ours goes on a five mile radius.

**NikoSan999** · 08-23-2010, 02:15 PM

For what the homes around you sold for go to zillow.com...upper left hand corner put your address. Will show what/when and comparables..3 bed etc...give you an idea of that at least.