WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER REASSESSING MY PROPERTY TAXES?

Depending on the circumstances, homeowners can benefit from having their property reassessed.

Decline in Property Values:
Do you owe more money on your home than you can sell it for on todays market? If you are upside-down on your loan. You may qualify to reduce your property taxes because your home is now declined in value. (Market Value Decline)

Loss of Property:
A recent example is the 2007 California Wildfire Disaster. If your home was damaged or lost - YOU NEED TO CALL ME!! You may be eligible for tax relief - don't wait!! (Disaster Relief: Property Damaged by Misfortune or Calamity)

New Ownership/Transfer Between Family:
Are you thinking about buying or selling your home? Are you considering gifting your property to someone? Are you in line to claim an inheritance of property?

Age Change/ Senior Citizen:
Are you 55 or older and plan to construct a new home? (Senior Citizen's Replacement Dwelling Benefit)

Avoid increasing your property taxes! Take time NOW, BEFORE YOU RECORD YOUR DEED, to review your options!

There are many California State Propositions that a homeowner can take advance of...but most people do not know about them. It takes a professional with experience to evaluate your situation.

  • Senior Citizen's Replacement Dwelling Benefit
  • Disabled Persons Claim for Transfer of Base-Year Value to Replacement Dwelling
  • Reassessment Exclusion for Real Property Transfers: Between Parent and Child
  • Reassessment Exclusion for Real Property Transfers: From Grandparent to Grandchild
  • Disaster Relief: Property Damaged by Misfortune or Calamity
  • Market Value Decline
  • Eminent Domain
  • Standard Homeowners’ Exemption
  • Veterans' Exemption
  • Disabled Veterans’ Exemption
  • Assessment of Manufactured Homes
  • Institutional Exemptions
  • Builders’ Exclusion
James Randolph receives award. If you are a California resident and want to SAVE YOUR MONEY while avoiding increased property taxes. Call a professional - 1-800-559-0410.
Some History

Proposition 13, Proposition 62 & Proposition 218
In 1978, voters approved Proposition 13, a constitutional amendment lowering property taxes and placing other restrictions on local government taxation. Proposition 13 also required two- thirds voter approval of special taxes imposed by cities, counties and special districts. General taxes were not subject to a popular vote requirement. In 1982, the California Supreme Court determined that special taxes were taxes earmarked for a specific purpose, whereas general taxes were taxes that were placed in the general fund to be used for general government purposes.

In 1986, voters approved Proposition 62, a statutory initiative which required majority voter approval of local general taxes and restated the two-thirds voter approval requirement for local special taxes. However, in response to subsequent California court decisions, which labeled the general tax vote requirement unconstitutional, cities, counties and other local governments increased or imposed new general taxes in the 1990s without voter approval. These commonly took the form of utility users taxes, business license fees and hotel taxes.

On November 6, 1996, Proposition 218 took effect. Proposition 218 makes clear that property-related "fees" are taxes and not fees if such "fees" are used for general public services. Thus, through Proposition 218 the voters have sent a clear message that the intentions of the voters in passing Proposition 13 cannot be so easily thwarted by calling a tax a "fee," because a tax by another name is still a tax.