Questions To Ask Before Buying A Home

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Regardless of how experienced you are with home buying, each of your house hunting journeys are bound to be a bit different - sometimes the process will be quick and simple, and other times the process may be long and challenging. But, no matter what turn of events you experience along the way, one thing that can help you be a little more prepared is by having the right questions ready.

If you're ready to start looking for a new home, below are the top 5 questions we recommend asking before signing.

1. What are other homes in the neighborhood worth?

To determine if the seller's asking price is an accurate representation of what the home is worth, start by learning what other homes in the area have sold for. If the asking price doesn't seem to line up with neighborhood comps, your next question should be, "why?" What is it about this particular home that is causing the price to be higher or lower?

2. How long has the home been up for sale?

The answer to this question will not only help you figure out if the price is reasonable, but it'll also help you figure out if there is something about the home that hasn't been discussed yet. For example, if the home has had trouble selling even though it's listed at a fair price, what is it about the home or the neighborhood that is keeping buyers away? If, on the other hand, it's only been on the market for a short period of time, you should then try to find out how many offers have been put in to see what the competition is like.

3. Are there any major problems to be aware of?

The seller probably won't be in a rush to let you know about problems they've experienced in the home - after all, the goal is to sell the house, not keep it - but if you make the first move and ask, you're more likely to get the information you're looking for. That said, don't hesitate to open up a dialogue where you ask about things such as flooding potential and structural issues, as well as information about the neighborhood itself.

4. Do you have warranties on recent updates?

Say, for example, that the current homeowner recently updated the heating and cooling system - if something goes wrong a few months or a year from now, you'll want to know if you're covered! So, find out what updates have been made to the home in the past few years and ask if there are any warranties in place so that you can determine what repair and replacement costs you might be responsible for down the line. 

5. How is the school district?

Aside from information about the home itself, you'll certainly want to dive into a conversation about the neighborhood - starting with the schools. Even if you don't have children that will be entering the district, if you ever go to sell the home in the future, you can bet that buyers will be looking for a home in an area with top-of-the-line school systems. While you can likely find some information about a school district's rating online, it's always helpful to get direct insight from the seller too - especially if they had children who went through the schools.

For those of you with aspirations to purchase a home on Long Island, after the sale is complete and you start to learn more about things such as property taxes, connect with the experts here at P.T.R.C. Inc. to learn how we can help. Since 1990 we have been helping homeowners in Nassau and Suffolk County reduce their property taxes, and we'd love to be able to help you next!

To learn more about our services, please visit www.ptrc.com or call (516) or (631) 484-0654.

How Are Property Taxes Calculated?

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Being a homeowner comes with the responsibility of taking on a ton of different expenses - mortgages, mortgage insurance, electric bills, water bills, landscaping, you get the idea. But aside from these, there is one very important expense that may sometimes be forgotten, or at least overlooked when purchasing a home or when evaluating homeowner costs - property taxes.

We all have them, but all too often (especially here on Long Island), homeowners are paying more than they should be in property taxes. That's why it's so important to know how they're calculated - if you're paying more than you should be, you need to be aware of it!

Determining Property Taxes

To find out how much your property tax bill will be, all you have to do is multiply your property's assessment (which is your assessment minus exemptions) by the tax rates for municipalities, counties, school districts and special districts.

Now, for those who are thinking of purchasing a home, chances are you're looking at the listing to give you a good idea about what you'll be paying in property taxes. However, it's important to keep in mind that what you see on the home's listing is typically a summary of the current year's property tax bill - when homes are sold, assessed values tend to change, which, you guessed it, impacts your property taxes on that particular home. It's also important to remember that the current homeowner may have been eligible for exemptions that might not apply to you, and also, what the home was assessed at for the current homeowner might not be an accurate reflection of the market value to date.

As a team that has been working to help lower property taxes for Long Island homeowners since 1990, we at P.T.R.C. Inc. know that understanding property taxes can be confusing! No need to worry though, we're here to answer any questions you may have regarding your property taxes, and if you file a grievance application, we'll take all of the necessary steps on your behalf to try and find you some savings.

For more information about our company or the grievance process, please visit us on our website or call (516) or (631) 484-0654 today.

Connect With P.T.R.C. Inc. On Social Media!

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Do you live on Long Island and feel that you're paying more in property tax than you should be? If you answered "yes," know that you're not alone - there are a ton of homeowners in both Nassau and Suffolk County who in fact are paying more than their fair share of property tax. 

We have good news though - our job is to help Long Island homeowners like you save money on your property taxes where applicable! Since our company's inception we have secured millions of dollars in reductions and refunds for our clients, and we would love to work with you next.

Now we know what you're thinking - where can you find the information you need to know about property taxes and filing a tax grievance? Aside from our website, we highly encourage you to connect with us on social media! 

On our Facebook and Twitter profiles (and of course right here on our blog), we share all of the details on applications and grievance deadlines, as well as general tips and info that we think all homeowners should know.

So, are you ready to get started? Just head on over to Facebook or Twitter and log into your account, then either search for P.T.R.C. Inc. or Property Tax Reduction Consultants and LIKE and FOLLOW our pages! Or, to make it easier, all you have to do is click on the "Facebook" or "Twitter" links above. We can't wait to connect with you!

P.T.R.C. Inc. has been specializing in reducing Long Island property taxes since 1990. As one of the leaders in property tax challenges on Long Island, P.T.R.C. Inc.'s main objective is to minimize clients' property tax assessments and their mission is to ensure that clients pay the lowest amount of property tax as required by law. For more information, call (516) or (631) 484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com.

P.T.R.C. FAQ's Answered

 Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

516-484-0654 or 631-484-0654

www.PTRC.com

Here at Property Tax Reduction Consultants, our policy is simple. No reduction = no fee! We believe that nobody should pay more than their fair share of property taxes, and that includes you! Do you have question about the grievance process? You're not the only one. We know the process may seem like a hassle, but we do our best to help make it as simple as possible!

Below are a few of our frequently asked questions answered. If you have any additonal questions, we encourage you to contact us today by calling 516-484-0654. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you have.

How long is the grievance process?

Answer: The process is a long one. It could take 18 months from beginning to end. However, regardless of when your particular case is settled, the results will always be retroactive to the beginning of the tax year for which you filed your property tax grievance. 

What is the cost if I do win a property tax reduction?

Answer: If you win a reduction, our fee is a percentage of the first year of savings. 

When is filing time?

If you are a Nassau County homeowner, filing is from January 1st to March 1st. If you are a Suffolk County homeowner, filing is from May 1st-May 19th. 

What if my request is turned down?

Answer: If your request is turned down, your property taxes will remain unchanged. There are no penalties and you can file again the next year if you'd like. 

5 Days Remain Until Suffolk County Grievance Deadline

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

516-484-0654 or 631-484-0654

www.PTRC.com

If you're a Suffolk County homeowner who plans on filing a grievance, you only have five days left to do so. You must act quick!

Property Tax Reduction Consultants are here to help you with any questions you may have about the application or grievance process. If you still need to fill out your appliction, please visit www.ptrc.com right away and sign your application through our website.

Remember, this is your once a year chance to save money and receive a refund if you're in fact overpaying on your Suffolk County property taxes. There is no risk in trying and your current property taxes will not increase because of this process.

Property Tax Reduction Consultants can be reached at 631-484-0654 should you have any questions.

Suffolk County Grievance Deadline

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

516-484-0654 or 631-484-0654

www.PTRC.com

Suffolk County Homeowners, the May 17th deadline is just days away. If you plan on filing a grievance, you must do so right away!

If you have any questions about the grievance process, Property Tax Reduction Consultants are here to help you with every step of the process. We can be reaching by calling 631-484-0654.

Suffolk County Grievance Deadline Quickly Approaching

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

516-484-0654 or 631-484-0654

www.PTRC.com

If you're a Suffolk County homeowner, there is still an opportnity to file a grievance with Property Tax Reduction Consultants and receive a refund if you're in fact overpaying on your property taxes. However, time is running out! We are just days away from the May 17th Suffolk County Grievance Deadline.

A couple of reasons to file now:

• Your taxes cannot go up because of this process
• There is no fee to be qualified 
• It's your once a year chance

If you have any questions or plan on filing, act fast! Our professionals are here and ready to help. Contact us today by calling 631-484-0654 or visit www.ptrc.com for more informaiton.