Struggling to pay your property taxes? You’re not alone. It’s a struggle millions of people face every year, and the risks are enormous. You could lose your home in a foreclosure. Fortunately, you do have options in this situation.
Challenge Your Valuation
If you’re not sure your home is worth as much as the assessor’s office says it is, you could challenge the assessed value of your property. The taxes you pay are based on the taxable value of your home, something your assessor’s office handles. California has a specific process for challenging the assessed value of your home – but it must be done shortly after you get your bill. You have to be able to show that the market value placed on your home is inaccurate. Check your county’s assessor’s website to learn exactly what documentation you’ll need to make a successful challenge before you get started.
Obtain a Deferral
In California, you can defer your property taxes if your annual household income is low enough. To qualify for this program, you’ll need to work through the state Controller’s office. Keep in mind that eventually those taxes will need to be repaid, but a deferral may give you the time to do that.
Sell Your Home
The other option you have is to sell your home. You can sell your Modesto home for cash if you simply can’t pay the tax bill. While you can sell when property taxes are still owed, it’s worth noting that this process can be a bit more complex than a traditional sale. You’ll need to use part of the proceeds of the sale to fulfill the debt owed so the sale can move forward. If you sell your Modesto home for cash with a company like Rapido House Buyers, that’s fairly easy because you won’t pay any closing costs, nor will you have to wait for the right buyer to come along. Instead, you make a simple phone call and say, “I’d like to sell my Modesto house quickly for cash.” Within just a couple of days, you’ll get a quote on your home, and you can close in as little as five business days. You won’t have to worry about repairs, curb appeal, or any of the other common concerns people have when they sell their home. Best of all, you can repay the tax debt immediately and move forward with your life. We buy houses fast for cash across California, and we’ll be happy to buy yours quickly too.
If you’re concerned about the cost of the property taxes on your home, it’s important to understand that you do have options. Whether you decide to defer or sell your home, you’re not stuck in an impossible situation.