Did your mortgage company write recently about an increase in the monthly payment due in a few months? Like many of us, you probably called asking what that was all about and learned how the upward shift in Gwinnett County real estate values has also added pressure to an already-tightened budget, a previously adjusted lifestyle and changed plans in a short amount of time. Granted, a few fixes may be available now to address the fast-approaching change in monthly payments, but what if there were ways to know about, and plan for, this possible payment shock next year? Well...there are.
Here's How to Pay Your Fair Share of Property Taxes
The change in monthly payment likely occured because of the additional funds needed to offset a potential deficit in your escrow account created to pay the higher tax bill on your property when it increased in value. View Your 2015 Annual Notice of Assessment online or watch for it in the mail to the owner of record. If there are any questions about assessment accuracy, homeowners will have until sometime in May to appeal the these assessments with fact-based information. Simply follow the appeal instructions provided on the assessment.
Homeowners can invest in a realestate appraisal to arrive at their own assessment of home values for a few hundred dollars or call on me, a local, licensed real estate agent, who provides a free report that
helps Gwinnett County Property Owners answer the question, "What is my house worth," on a property-specific basis using the most recent Metro Atlanta listing services. Either report will provide the most recent information on the sales of properties most similar to theirs nearby, allowing them to have peace of mind about their property tax contribution or the resources needed to address a possible over assessment.
Monitor Neighborhood Property Sales and Ownership Changes
Please consider signing up for more neighborhood intelligence and have detailed information on neighborhood property sales, other changes in ownership and possible changes in property value. These automated reports are sent directly to your inbox shortly after an event, allowing you to know about neighborhood changes year round, rather than every April. The data is sourced directly from local real estate brokers through the local multiple listing services, the same ones used by local appraisers and agents, allowing you, the informed home owner, to make sound personal decisions while diligently protecting your privacy. Why not sign up today and unsubscribe at any time?
Solomon Greene
Georgia Real Estate Brokers Associate
REALTOR®, CDPE
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners
http://www.TheGwinnettHomePages.com
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(678) 775-2677
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