Real Estate, Finance and Home Articles of Interest

Many homeowners have been taken by surprise when the value of their home suddenly seemed to hit freefall. It would certainly seem as though there should be one advantage to dropping home prices; however. Many homeowners assumed that when the value of their homes fell, their property taxes would as well. This has not been the case in many areas, however.

In some cases, homeowners have been shocked to discover that not only have their property tax bills not decreased, they have actually increased in some cases. This has been quite a surprise for homeowners as they struggle to understand why they are paying more in taxes on homes that are not worth as much as they were just a year ago.

For the most part, the reason is due to the complex manner in which property taxes are calculated in most areas. One of the biggest culprits, particularly in Nevada, is the fact that property tax increases were capped during the housing boom. The housing boom saw home values skyrocket rapidly. At this time, the values of home in these areas are decreasing, however the fall has not been enough to compensate for the increases of a few years ago. As a result, the values of home would need to decrease rapidly over a very short period of time in order for the tax bills to decrease. While declining property values have certainly been troublesome, they have not fallen enough to provide any sort of relief for home owners.

As the rate of foreclosures and defaulted loans continue to rise in many areas, many counties have noticed an increase in the rate of unpaid property taxes. Detroit is the location of a record high rate of unpaid property taxes. Detroit is currently considered one of the worst housing markets in the United States based on the rise of foreclosures and the rapid decline of housing prices. Adding to the turmoil is a lack of jobs and a weak economy in the greater Detroit area.

Many property owners are still at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure if they fail to pay their property taxes three years in a row. This is spite of them meeting their montly mortgage payments! When this happens, the county takes control of the home and auctions it off to pay the balance of taxes due. Counties in the Detroit are struggling to recover millions of dollars in unpaid backtaxes. The issue has had a very large impact on counties in the greater Detroit area.

Property owners who find they are behind on the property taxes can take some steps to stave off foreclosure. The first step is to begin making payments on their taxes. Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking they are doomed if they cannot pay off all of the taxes owed and thus pay nothing at all. Keep in mind that making any payment, even if you cannot pay all of the taxes, is better than paying nothing at all. If you are not able to pay all of the taxes, at least try to pay off your oldest taxes first. Remember that taxes which remain unpaid for three years consecutively places you at risk for foreclosure. Pay off the oldest taxes first to combat this risk.

You might also check with your county to determine whether you may be eligible for an extension for property taxes which are unpaid. In some situations, the county treasurer may be able to grant you an exemption for your taxes if you are able to demonstrate extreme hardship. It is best to do this as early as possible; however, as there are commonly deadlines for the exemption applications.

In addition, check with your mortgage company or bank to find out whether they offer any type of program or loan that can provide you with the money needed to cover your taxes. It is never in the best interest of the bank to have the county take over the property, so they are often willing to work with the homeowner to avoid having this happen. Keep in mind; however, that when you do this will you will be taking on an increased debt burden.

Rid yourself of the worry about who is going to own your home. Arm yourself with the knowledge to avoid the foreclosure of your home. Foreclosure Help