Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Reduce Mellow-Roos Property Taxes

By Valerie Faltas

Proposition 13 was passed in 1978 by the Howard Jarvis Administration to limit propety taxes in the state of California. Proposition 13 severely controlled the capacity of government to use property taxes to build public facilities and services. As a result, Californians were forced to find new methods to pay for government community improvements in their neighborhoods like streets, schools, parks, etc. The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 was enacted by the State legislature, the Act enabled Community Facilities Districts (CFDs) to be established as a means of getting this crucial neighborhood funding.

Each Community Financial District has varies Mellow-Roos Property Taxes. Normally|Generally|Typically, an approved method that relates to the house size or lot size is used to establish the amount of an individual assessment. So a smaller house in a community will pay less than a larger house in the same neighborhood. Often, the special property tax and assessments do not go above 1% to 1.5% of the market value of new homes. Additionally, the complete quantity of all annual property tax normally do not go above 2% to 2.5% of the homes taxable property base value. If you take action to lower your taxable base value meaning, your propety tax you will save a substantial amount of money especially, if you have Mellow-Roos Taxes on your house because of the increased percentage in property taxes you pay. Most likely you will save thousands every year because even though the percentages are low values in California are high enough to make them substantial.

In California many homeowners in most urban areas have lost in excess of $200,000 in market value on their houses and at the normal rate of 1.25% in property taxes they will save $2,500 per year for every year they keep their residence! Yet, that same taxpayer at a 2% property tax rate because of Mellow-Roos taxes will save over $4,000 every year in property taxes! If you are paying Mellow-Roos and have lost $200,000 since you purchased your home and let's say you intend to stay in your home for the next 10 years, you will save $40,000! Don't settle for Proposition 8 the temporary decline in property taxes, its only temporary. Learning to PERMANENTLY lower your taxable base value in California is the key to saving thousands over the course of your home ownership which is disclosed in the California Little Black Book.

Most often Mellow-Roos Property Taxes are applied to newly built neighborhoods like large scale Planned Unit Developments (PUD) where there have been many new houses built at once and the taxes are necessary to establish city services. Ive seen Planned Unit Developments that had upwards of 5,000 homes built! So, the county and city municipalities need to scramble for funding to establish the roads, sewage systems, schools, recreation centers, parks and so much more. Prior to purchasing a house with Mellow-Roos property taxes you will be informed in the beginning negotiation stages of acquiring the house and during escrow that these property taxes apply. You will never be blind sighted by Mellow-Roos Taxes, it is required that you are notified before purchasing.

About the Author: Valerie Faltas, Property Tax Expert has been involved in all facets of real estate for over ten years including assessments, appraisals, estates and trusts, investing and much more. She is a Certified Property Tax Appraiser, Licensed Residential Appraiser and a member of the International Association of Assessment Officers. As a real estate investor and advisor she is well versed in all aspects of real estate. To contact Valerie Faltas go to her website: www.propertytaxlittleblackbook.com.

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