California’s seemingly endless housing crisis continues to make national, state and local headlines. This topic has appeared regularly in this blog from time to time over the last few years. Some months back, I reported that the California Association of Realtors (“CAR”) would be seeking to put an initiative on the November 2018 ballot intended to, inter alia, help increase the … [Read more...] about Proposition 5—Realtors’ property tax “portability” initiative—to be decided on the November ballot
Property Taxes
Temporary property tax relief available for victims of California’s winter storms
Thus far this season, California has been hit hard by the elements, as many of you are likely too well aware, as torrential precipitation has dumped an overwhelming amount of water on both the northern and southern portions of the state. While these ordeals have made our five-year drought seem like a distant memory, they have also wreaked havoc on many of us. The enormity of … [Read more...] about Temporary property tax relief available for victims of California’s winter storms
Bypassing reassessments and transfer taxes
In recent years, I have noticed a couple of related trends in my real estate law practice with regard to transfer taxes and property tax reassessments. First, county tax assessor’s offices and recorder’s offices have become more aggressive with the transfers they characterize as taxable events, in an apparent effort to augment their counties’ bottom lines. Second, in a clear … [Read more...] about Bypassing reassessments and transfer taxes
No more assessment appeal filing fees, Santa Clara County’s early holiday token
No more Assessment appeal filing fees Taking a small but positive step for local taxpayers, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has just offered a token to property owners who are dissatisfied with their assessed values for real property tax purposes by repealing the $40 fee for filing an assessment appeal. Adopted in 2007, this filing fee has now been eliminated … [Read more...] about No more assessment appeal filing fees, Santa Clara County’s early holiday token
Tax breaks for seniors and low/fixed income taxpayers in California
Tax breaks for seniors If you’re age 65 or over, you’re likely quite familiar with the many advantages you can receive for having reached that milestone. A number of agencies responsible for administering these benefits (e.g., Social Security, Medicare) expend significant amounts of time and money on education and outreach efforts to help ensure awareness among those persons … [Read more...] about Tax breaks for seniors and low/fixed income taxpayers in California