The Story of a Former Assessor Who Left To Share Money Saving Secrets She Discovered
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In early 2003 I applied with the Los Angeles County Assessor's Office as one of 900 applicants for 25 positions to be a Real Estate Appraiser Trainee. As a trainee I went through an 18 month probation period and a 12 month training with them which included classroom education, numerous exams, field training in all parts of real estate appraisal, property tax law and the systems in place within the Assessor's Office. Had I failed any one of my series of exams or gotten a bad review by my field trainer they would have booted me out.
After the one year long training program I took an exam with the State Board of Equalization and became a Certified Property Tax Appraiser. I was promoted from Trainee to Appraiser. Later, on my own I also became a licensed Residential Appraiser by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers which meant I could do private appraisals also, ones homeowners use for purchase and refinance. I bought my first home at the age of 23, my second at the age of 24, my third at the age of 25, so as I was working for the Assessor and learning appraisal I was also buying, selling and fixing up homes so I saw all facets of the process. Additionally, I was the administrator of a family estate at the age of 19 so I had already had a background in trusts and estates and my experience with the Assessor's Office and in real estate opened my eyes to what I had done years earlier for my family.
Being employed by the Office of the Assessor is considered to be impressive given the nature of the job. Determining values, the public paid property taxes based on the amounts I determined. I affected over 6,000 properties in Los Angeles County while I worked for Assessor's Office|Assessor|Office of the Assessor. The prestige comes from the nature of the position and the understanding gained through it. There is definitely a blown up sense of power that goes along with the position; if homeowners really saw the other side and fully understood the law and how it works, the prestige would be gone. The bottom line is always the numbers.
My job changed with the real estate industry: different types of work during different types of markets. I had an excellent reputation within the Assessors Office, was known for being fast, proficient and thorough. I was chosen by higher level management several times to work on different projects and help with other departments within the Office. When I left the Office of the Assessor to go to law school (which I dropped out of), months even up to a year after I left, homeowners would ask for me since I would help them more than others who worked there. Even the clerks in the office would come to me with problems since they knew I would assist them. I had a bright future with the Assessor and would have risen through the ranks had I chosen to stay there.
NATIONALLY: In almost every state in this country property taxes are based on market value. Market value is the key. The biggest problem is that every Assessor in every county in every state is a MASS appraisal organization. They have hundreds of thousands of assessments to complete year after year and usually are understaffed. They exist to serve, to do their jobs to follow the law and to be as fair as possible. So often values aren't where they should be because of the simple fact that they don't have the time or the man power to be more thorough.
CALIFORNIA: California Property Tax law is unique and much different than most of the rest of the country. When the market started to really tank people start calling the office and coming in looking for help, looking for breaks. I was helping homeowners get the temporary tax break and I knew a better way. I know a way for homeowners in California to get a PERMANENT break in their property taxes. Completely legal, just sort of out of the box that wasnt kosher for me to share. Day after day, tax payer after tax payer...I knew a better way. Often they wouldn't even qualify for the temporary break because of the way it is set up. Honestly, I felt compelled. I felt compelled to make the information known so that I could help homeowners in a substantial way through this housing and mortgage crisis. So, I left, created my program and am making it known.
If a homeowner can get your loan modified to permanently reduce how much you owe the bank for your house why shouldn't the same apply to your property taxes? The law is ALWAYS on the homeowner's side...you just don't realize it!
When I was processing single family home transfers at 3 or 4 an HOUR...of course some were going to be higher than they should be because I didn't have the time to make sure they were right and often they were lower than they should be. Only if the taxpayer complained was the value investigated. Every homeowner needs to understand some basic appraisal to make sure they are aren't overpaying especially in this market. Education is the key. Anyone who owns a home can understand and handle this process and will feel in control of what they are being taxed on their home.
The Assessor is afraid the people because the taxpayer are the ones who keep them in office. No one in the Assessor's Office wants to deal with a disgruntled taxpayer!
Bottom line: the Assessor is not out to get the taxpayers. Education and eliminating fear in times like today. This is the AMAZING news about a low real estate market! Its time for taxpayers to save and educate themselves. This low real estate market means: modified loans and lower property taxes! Yes, the real estate market is down and this is how it can help you! This is one of the numerous reasons this housing crisis is good!
My vision, my goal is to empower the homeowner! No more fear. Fear comes from ignorance and my goal is to educate and ultimately dispel fear. In a time of turbulence and change, it is more true than ever that knowledge is power. - JFK Feel free to contact me! I look forward to hearing from you.
About the author: Valerie Faltas, Property Tax Expert has been involved in all facets of real estate for over ten years including assessments, appraisals, estates and trusts, investing and much more.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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