Best Strategies To Lower Your Property Taxes In Nassau County

While most real estate values in Nassau County have risen in the past few years, their future still remains uncertain. Valuation increases have largely been driven by two factors.

1. The outmigration of people from the city looking for homes in less dense areas with more room to stay comfortable.
2. Preexisting low inventories of housing in real estate.

Though outmigration has slowed, low inventories persist, keeping all property values high. Even if you already own a house, higher property rates mean you are likely dealing with high Nassau County property taxes.

While most homeowners think there is nothing they can do about their high taxes, that is not true! But how can you try pushing for lower taxes? To start with, try to understand that you are not lowering your real estate tax rate since it is established by the local authority, but you can always challenge and lower your tax assessment. Here are some things you can do to lower your property taxes.

Check Out Top Tax Exemptions.

If you are a veteran living in Nassau County, you could be eligible for a 15% property tax exemption (plus 10% for combat service or for receiving any expeditionary medal). Even surviving dependents and spouses can qualify for this exemption. In addition to veterans, volunteer firefighters, and ambulance workers who have served for five years can get a 10% exemption. This applies to both general and school taxes as long as your local school district allows it.

Look For Property Assessment Errors.

It is important to check all the details of your property record card, which is maintained at your assessor's office. If you can find them immediately, it can save you a lot of effort and time, challenging decisions, or errors. But what most people don't tell you is that they go there to check out their neighbors' property cards instead of their own.

By examining how your neighbor's property is assessed, you can better understand the assessment process and how it applies to your real estate. If you believe that there is an error in your property tax assessment, it's best to check out other houses in your locality. Is your home assessed like your neighbor's home even though they have a large garage and a backyard swimming pool? This would be an excellent reason to help bring down your home tax.

Look For Professional Assistance.

Have you ever heard the saying, 'Every person who represents himself in a court has a fool for a lawyer?' So, it's never a good idea to challenge your tax grievance yourself since most such cases go to court. It happens because most local towns deny petitions at the town level. Moreover, homeowners who file for a grievance themselves save much less in their property taxes. The cost of hiring an experienced tax grievance professional will be far less than what you will pay for higher taxes.

When checking out potential professionals, ensure your chosen expert is licensed, working all year round, has a professional appraiser, and never asks for any upfront fees since most work on a contingency basis.

Francine Kanter, CCH, RsHom(NA), is Board Certified by the Council for Homeopathic Certification of North America, and has over 15 years of experience. She is also a member of NASH, North American Society of Homeopaths.