"Where am I supposed to send my tax bill?"

Let me start by staying thanks to Leslie Ebersole, for helping jar loose my ouchy brain writers block with a statement on Facebook.  And I'd also like to add... this is how we handle taxes in Georgia, so it may/may not apply in other states.

Last Monday I was sitting in the hospital waiting to have a test when I got a call and since I wasn't supposed to be using my cell phone there I got up and walked outside to text back one of my 2011 first time home buyers and told him in the text that I was waiting for a CT scan at Putnam General and would call him the next morning.  I did.  And this first time home buyer wanted me to help jar his memory because he remembered something the attorney had said at closing about sending his tax bill somewhere. 

In Georgia at the time of closing taxes (which are due near the end of the year in most counties) are prorated.  If the actual milege rate has been set they are calculated accurately, but if you happen to buy before ... the budget has been then taxes are prorated based on the prior year's tax amount.  Parties agree to recalculate amongst themselves if bill is significantly different.  But on the front page of the HUD statement generally around line 107 the county taxes are prorated and the seller pays his portion for the year if taxes are still unpaid and bills have not been sent out.  Then when the tax bill IS sent out the purchaser owes taxes for the entire year since the seller "paid" his prorated share in the form of a credit at the time of closing.

So if the purchaser owes the bill why would he remember the attorney telling him to "send" the bill somewhere?

Well, if you have a loan, chances are you have escrows set up for both homeowners insurance and property taxes.  You should contact your mortgage company and get a fax or email and then write your loan number on your tax bill and send it soon after it arrives so there will be no delay in getting your taxes paid in a timely manner as to not incur any late fees. So this first time buyer was right, he DID need to send this tax bill to someone and I was more than happy to remind that it is his lender.  For many 2011 first time home buyers the excitement of being at a closing where you were going to walk out with keys to a home you were buying it makes it difficult to pay attention to everything that attorney is telling you. 

So if you purchased a home this year and got a loan and taxes were escrowed... send yout lender your tax bill, you pay taxes into  your escrow account monthly with your house payment.  You'll also want to send them your home owners insurance bill when it comes due for renewal next year too.  If you have questions feel free to give us a call and we'll

Of course that's why you should hire Lane Realty if you are a first time home buyer in the Lake Sinclair area.  We are there to guide you through the process during the search and negotiations.  We are there to recommend a list of great home inspectors to choose from.  We are there to make sure you do that walk through for checking on if any and all negotiated repairs are completed.  But beyond that we remain there for you after the sale.  We'll remind you where to send that tax bill and if you need a reliable repair person you can count on us for that recommendation too.  Always service with a smile, before, during and after the sale.