June 2017 // Real Estate & Home Builders Guide // 15E
3 STEPS
By Ilyce Glink
and Samuel J. Tamkin
Tribune Content Agency
W
e have recently received
many questions relating
to real estate taxes and
how to lower them or contest
them. It seems as though real
estate property taxes rise each
year, whether or not the value of
the underlying property went up.
The truth is everyone feels as
though their property taxes are
too high, even if they are living
in a low property tax state. The
good news is you can usually
fight your property tax assess-
ment, but you typically have
only a limited window of time
in which to appeal your assess-
ment; in some communities it
takes some time for your appeal
to be heard, and you’ll have to
keep paying the full amount
you’re assessed while the appeal
is ongoing, then get a refund on
the other side.
There are three easy steps
you should take to make sure
you’re paying the least amount
(legally) for your property taxes.
1
— Make sure you’re taking
all of the exemptions to
which you’re entitled.
Many areas allow you to
take a benefit of owning a home
and having it as your primary
residence. In some locations it
may be called a homeownership
exemption or homestead exemp-
tions. And in some areas seniors
get additional tax breaks. You
need to know what tax breaks
are offered in your area and
make sure that you take them.
If you miss taking the
exemptions to which you’re
entitled, and suddenly figured
out you could be saving big
PHILLIPS
RESERVOIR
PROPERTY
-
REDUCED - BAKER COUNTY, BAKER CITY,
OR - 21 miles from Baker City, the property
offers a beautiful timbered estate, gorgeous
views and year round recreation opportunities.
This property has a little over 2 acres in a
secluded area bordering the National Forest
boundary. $295,000 #RG00117
TO PAYING THE LOWEST
PROPERTY TAXES POSSIBLE
bucks, you may be able to go
back retroactively for a short
period of time (a few years) to
try and claim the exemption.
In some counties, you won’t be
able to claim exemptions for past
years and will only be able to
claim it for the current year.
2
— Understand when your
assessment or property value
changes and when you need to
make your appeal.
These dates and time periods
fluctuate all over the country. In
Cook County, Ill., which is one
of the most populous counties
in the country, tax assessment
notices are sent on a rolling
basis. Every third year (called a
triennial reassessment), your city
or neighborhood will be reas-
sessed. You’ll then have roughly
six to seven weeks between the
time the notices are mailed and
SOLD
SALMON CREEK RANCH - PENDING -
BAKER COUNTY, BAKER CITY, OR - 42 acres,
home,equestrian facility, timber,pasture,springs
andUSFS adjacent. 6 mil from town. $599,000.
#RG00115
McNamara Trust CRP - Umatilla County/
Pendleton, OR: 150.64 total acres of which 142
acres currently enrolled in CRP. Great potential
home site near Pendleton with power located near
property. $250,000. #RG00716
COUSE CREEK PROPERTY - SOLD - UMATILLA
COUNTY, MILTON-FREEWATER, OR: 16.93
acres with 14.5 acres fenced and crossed fenced
in pasture. Craftsman style, 1,442 sq. ft. home.
Outbuildings include
double car garage/cook
house, machine shed and shop. Couse Creek runs
through property. $380,000. #RG03016
ELKHORN MOUNTAIN GETAWAY RANCH -
BAKER COUNTY/BAKER CITY, OR: 230 +/- acres
timber parcel located between Rock Creek and
Muddy Creek. Adjacent to ODFW area at the base
of the Elkhorn Mountains. Located 8 mi West of
Haines. $230,000. #RG00717
STEVENSON FARM #1 - UMATILLA COUNTY/
PENDLETON, OR: Development potential on this
76.37 acre parcel. Zoned to allow the creation of
4ea nine acre lots with 40+ acres of river bottom
remaining for recreation. $350,000. #RG02415
BALLARD CREEK - BAKER COUNTY/
OXBOW, OR - 160 acres hunters paradise
surrounded by BLM and NF 3 sides. Good
water and timber. Zoned timber/grazing.
$160,000 #RG01916
when your assessment is due
to file your appeal. In the state
of Georgia, there is a uniform
appeal form you must file
within 45 days of receiving your
assessment. In Travis County,
Texas, notices of appraised value
are typically mailed in April,
and you then have 30 days to file
your appeal.
Most county assessor’s
websites have this information
online. If not, you can call
your county assessor’s office to
get the specific dates for your
home’s reassessment and appeal
deadlines. And, you need to
remember that the terminology
changes from state to state. We
talk about the assessment of
a property, but in some states
they may use different terms. If
you check the website for your
local taxing body, you might
obtain more information about
Big Buttercreek CRP - Morrow County/Echo,
OR: CRP income property. 186.9 acres of land
with 157.7 acres of CRP. Annual CRP payment of
$10,992 with power and well located on the property.
CRP contract runs through 2020. The balance of the
property is range pasture. $295,000. #RG03515
The Whitney Land Co.
your taxes online. Or, you might
have to call the taxing body or
go into their office and get more
information.
3
— Make sure the homes you
compare your property to are
in the same tax classification.
When the pros appeal a
property tax assessment, they
know they have to find compa-
rable properties in the same tax
classification. If you compare
your home to properties in other
tax classifications, your appeal
likely won’t work.
Your county assessor’s office
should be able to provide your
home’s tax classification, as well
as others. You should find homes
that are about the same age, size
and with the same amenities that
are paying less in taxes than you
are when creating your appeal
package.
SKEELS
PROPERTY
-
UNION
COUNTY, UNION, OR - Secluded
buildable 80 +/- acres near Tollgate and
the Spout Springs Ski Resort. Mixed
timbered and open parcel on the breaks
of Lookingglass Creek. Forest Road
access is seasonal. Bordered on 2 sides
by Umatilla National Forest. Great view
property. WMU 56. $290,000. #RG02316
STEVENSON FARM #2 - PENDING - UMATILLA
COUNTY/PENDLETON, OR: Potentially buildable
lot of record. 39.24 acres with great views of the
Blue Mountains. Adjacent to a County road and ½
mile to power. Past uses include wheat production.
$150,000. #RG02515
SEE BACK PAGE
OLD RATTRAY RANCH WEST
- GILLIAM COUNTY, CONDON,
OR - 939.75 total acres. Property
consisting of 612.27 acres of range,
229.52 acres currently in wheat
production, and 97.96 acres of CRP.
Abundant deer and upland birds with
occasional elk. $385,979. #RG02516
101 S.E. 3RD • P.O. Box 1614 • PENDLETON, OR 97801
Phone: (541) 278-4444
E-Mail: farms@whitneylandcompany.com