Q: I must hire a tax challenge company to lower my property tax.

A: If a homeowner has the time and resources available to find similar neighborhood homes and complete the Complaint Forms, they should challenge their own assessed value. If you do not have the time, you can order a discounted exterior appraisal, spend 20 minutes entering some data, print your appraisal and forms and send it certified mail the day your assessor opens the tax challenge period. Really, If you can take a picture of your house and put it on the web - the software does the rest. Our appraisal network can verify the property data, prepare your certified valuation and image it direct to your private account. Technology has changed everything, and now something you always paid for is available for free..  

Q: If I pay someone an expensive FEE, they will work harder because the total FEE is based off of the total tax reduction I receive.   

A: Why pay anything? Get an appraisal and file yourself. The tax challenge process, and the tax reduction you will receive; are both determined by the full market value for your property. Basically, whatever similar properties in your area sold for during a specified time frame; is exactly how your assessed value is determined. Until now, homeowners would pay these firms for fear they would not understand the process. Never pay again! The software is free, fully automated to populate the necessary forms, and it allows you to manage the entire tax challenge process from start to finish.

Q: I already signed with a Fee Company to represent me, and they insist I must pay a fee to cancel and file on my own.  

A: Each year, every Assessor opens a window of time called the "Challenge Period " or "Tax Grievance Period". This day is when the Assessor files the preliminary assessed value and tax amounts (tentative roll date) for all properties within their jurisdiction or district. Any contract signed by a homeowner prior to this date can be voided and cancelled. Your contract does not become effective until that date because it is impossible to determine if you are over assessed prior to the assessor filing the tentative assessment roll for your property. Property owners are fraudulently given the impression that they cannot cancel once they have signed with a firm, without paying a fee.  If you choose to file on your own-you must notify that firm of your intention to so by sending a cancellation letter prior prior to the day your area assessor files the preliminary or tentative tax roll. Do not be intimidated, and let them know you will contact the attorney general for your State if they file you tax challenge against your wishes. A simple letter of cancellation sent certified mail is sufficient proof of your desire to cancel.

For Example:  Your Assessor does not release the preliminary or tentative assessment roll until the first day of January. If you have previously signed with a Fee Company in October, you will only have until that coming first day of January to cancel the Contract. It works every time and it is your right to save a couple bucks.

Q: It doesn't make sense to appeal my property tax if my assessed value is lower than the full market value.

A: This may not be true. Many states allow appeals based upon using unequal appraisal. Our property tax tools can probably reduce your assessment, even if your assessed value is below market value. Unequal appraisal compares the assessed value of your property to the assessed value of other similar properties. Our interactive software puts a network of certified state appraisers at your fingertip. Our "One click" technology gets your appraisal ordered and back into your private online account within several days. The best part, you use the software every year for free to continue to lower your assessed value over and over....

Q: If my neighbor has a similar house and we both pay the same amount in property tax, I will lose.

A: Due to continued declines in real property value it is increasingly common for entire neighborhoods to be paying too much in property tax every year. You can visit our free links to get an estimate of property value. If you want to win, you should get your appraisal done early so it is ready to be printed and submitted when the first day. if you do not submit on time you have to wait another year. As more property owners register for this free software application the valuation costs can be reduced in future tax years. It also makes this website attractive to advertisers which pays the hosting fees.

Q: It's not worthwhile to appeal.

A: It is your responsibility to appeal if you feel your property is unfairly assessed. Each year, local politicians and businesses are the first to challenge the assessed value of their property; because they know they may be entitled to thousands of dollars in tax savings. The assessor wants you to appeal because it helps them to create more accurate models needed to improve the tax assessments in future years. The Assessors also agree that it is wise to file a property tax challenge every year if you believe you are over assessed. Everyone needs to pay a fair share to support local infrastructure, but you should not pay a penny more than you should.

Q: If I successfully grieved my taxes last year I cannot file again for three years.

A: If you are aggrieved by an unfair property tax assessment you can file an administrative complaint every year.

Q: Every homeowner will be entitled to a reduction in assessed value.

A: It is estimated that as many as 65 Million properties are over assessed. The vast majority of homeowners will receive a reduction to the assessed value of their property over the next several years - but not every homeowner will qualify.  Because the platform directs a tremendous amount of work to appraisers - we leverage the purchasing power of all the homeowners to get the appraisals done at a fraction of what individual homeowners would pay. It's simple, do some basis research to get an estimate of your property value; if you feel you are over assessed we provide you with tools necessary to submit and win.

Q: If I challenge the assessed value of my house my taxes may go up.

A: Your assessed value will never increase as a result of filing a tax challenge complaint.

Myth: The tax assessor said it was a simple procedure and that I should file myself.

Fact: When provided the right tools you will be actually be more successful filing the tax challenge yourself.  Just subtract the Fee the preparation company wanted to charge to see what your real savings would be. Yes, by taking 20 minutes to do it yourself you can save thousands, and keep it all. We strongly suggest spending the couple bucks to get the appraisal done professionally. It really helps and it can help you to save thousands more than you originally expected.

Loan Resolution Myths

Myth: Every Property Owner will receive a loan resolution.

Fact: You must substantiate a verifiable hardship such as; income loss, increased expenses, rising costs, excessive debt or at risk of imminent default due to unforeseen circumstances.  Basically, you must prove you have suffered a hardship that has caused you to miss payments or increases the likelihood of default.

Myth: The lender is required to reduce my mortgage payments to 31% of my gross income when a loan resolution is submitted. 

Fact: Unfortunately, if your loan investor does not participate in the Home Affordable Modification Program your Congress does not currently require anything of them.  It does seem unfair that many of these same investors continue to benefit from programs that are funded by your tax dollars.  If your loan servicer is already enrolled as a HAMP PARTICIPANT you may qualify for a loan resolution under the Obama Plan.  The most effective tool to determine your eligibility is the Net Present Value analysis.  This is the tool that pre-determines your eligibility for the program and provides the lender with the “pass or fail” result.   

Myth: If my house is valued below my mortgage the lender is required to reduce the amount of money I owe on my mortgage to the current value.

Fact: The Lender may defer a substantial amount of principal owed until the end of the loan and in very rare instances may reduce the principal amount owed.  The NPV provides the lender with the modified interest rate, modified term and the amount of principal that must be deferred to make the payment affordable.  If the NPV decision determines that a $1.00 positive benefit exists to modify the terms of the loan under HAMP – the lender must comply.

Myth: If I have equity in my home I will not qualify for a loan resolution.

Fact: If you do not qualify for the Home Affordable Refinance Program – You may still qualify for the Home Affordable Modification Program.  You should obtain an independent appraisal to first determine the value of your property.  You should check with your lender to see if you qualify for this program.  If you do not have equity in your house you are still not automatically approved and should use every tool available to fight for your home. 

Myth: Every Lender denies homeowners that are actually qualified for a resolution.

Fact: Although some Lenders are not inputting proper information to determine eligibility for the Home Affordable Modification Program we feel that just as many are.  The true way to ensure your lender is accurately reviewing your financial information and property value is to order an independent analysis to determine if a benefit exists to modify the terms of your loan.  If you can establish that your Lender did not submit your information in good-faith you have a right to appeal the decision, and present that evidence to a Judge who would typically halt any foreclosure sale until the lender can prove that no benefit exists to modify the terms of the loan.

Myth: The Company that sends my mortgage statement owns my loan.

Fact: In many cases the Company that sends your monthly mortgage statement services the account for an investor or possibly certificate holders that purchased a portion of your loan through structured securitization.  If your Lender does not own the loan you should serve them with an FDCPA Notice requesting the name of the investor(s) that hold an interest, or partial interest in the Note you executed at closing.  You should first check if Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac purchased your loan from the original lender.  Both of these tax-payer owned entities participate in the Making Home Affordable Program and are eager to help homeowners.  If your loan is insured by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) you may still qualify for a Non-HAMP loan resolution. 

Myth: Good Grievance is a Government Agency that negotiates loan modifications.  

Fact: Good Grievance Corp. is not affiliated with any government agency or program.  Although many lawyers use our process to help homeowners achieve affordable modifications we do not provide legal advice.  We do not negotiate settlement terms with any parties and will not accept or deny offered programs on behalf of our Members.  Our unique Memberships provide homeowners with the administrative tools required to reach an amicable solution with their respective loan investor only if they have suffered a hardship.  If a homeowner cannot document a verifiable hardship we do not suggest utilizing our software or programs.  We continually provide the tools and updates required for each Member to achieve an amicable mortgage resolve, achieving fair tax assessments, reducing insurance premiums and lowering energy costs.