Deacon & Hoover Real Estate Advisors LLC
Alex Deacon, Deacon & Hoover Real Estate Advisors LLCPhone: (412) 613-4435
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How to lower your property taxes: Options for veterans with disabilities other than exemption

by Alex Deacon 03/18/2022

Many state governments offer property tax exemptions to qualified veterans with disabilities. However, since the amount of coverage and rules for eligibility vary from one state to the next, you may still need some extra help. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can lower your property taxes in the event you have to pay them in full. Here are some tips for keeping your property taxes down:

Limit major projects

Property taxes vary by region, but are also dependent on the value of your home. The more value you put into a home, the higher the potential property taxes can be. One way to control a spike in property taxes is to limit major home improvement projects. Avoid non-essential home improvement projects like adding a swimming pool or remodeling an entire kitchen, as these things are known to increase overall property value.

However, this advice doesn't necessarily apply to all home improvement projects. For example, veterans with disabilities can receive special housing grants to finance home upgrades to accommodate a disability. While these changes can add value to the home, there is more opportunity to ease the financial burden. If you're not sure how a certain project will affect home value, you can consult a professional appraiser for more info.

Check your tax bill for inaccuracies

Conveniently, it's a simple process to obtain a copy of your property tax bill from local government offices. Carefully reviewing the bill can be an excellent way to save on your property taxes. Check for any mistakes or inaccuracies based on the size of your property and livable square footage.

It can also be helpful to research neighborhood home values to confirm how your taxes compare. Major discrepancies might be mistakes you can have resolved in your favor.

Get a second appraisal

A major part of your home's value is determined by the appraisal performed by a tax assessor. If after reviewing your bill you feel there are discrepancies to be addressed, it can be worth hiring an independent home appraiser. Compare the results to determine the most accurate value and potentially save thousands of dollars per year in property taxes.

About the Author
Author

Alex Deacon

Why work with The Alex Deacon Team?

More than six decades of combined team experience
Combined sales over 1,100 in 20 years
The average agent works by themselves or is inexperienced
The average agent is in and out of the business in less than 5 years
The average agent according to national statistics sells less than 8 homes a year
Our team concept allows us to do a large volume of business, keeps our finger on the pulse of the market by doing such volume, giving our clients outstanding service because everyone on the team has a certain skill set and experience level and we all work together to give you the best of each of our individual skills.
Unique programs like our Guaranteed home sale or commission free program just as one example.
We can cover a large area being a team verses one agent.
Huge personal data base of past, present and potential clients that we will expose your home.