One thing good that we have in Oregon is that we have two assessments for property taxes - one is the real market value and the other is the assessed value.  The assessed value can only go up 3% per year and the owner is taxed on the lower of the two values.  I appealed the property taxes of 3 properties I owned in 2011 when the real market value dropped below the assessed value - and won.  But in a normal market, we typically go up 3% per year regardless of skyrocketing market values.

I have found the best way to protest in Lake and Cook County Illinois is to use an attorney who specializes in protests.

There is an appeal process here to contest property taxes but I have never used it since we have homestead and increases are capped. Taxes here are based on the taxable value of the property which can be much less than market value or appraised value. I don't help them appeal but will give them information on where to find details on the process and how to proceed. I always advise them prior to signing of the possibility of a large increase in taxes and to plan for it.

Yes, many will ask me to send them comps for the last 12 months to help with their protests. 

  Florida has the Save Our Homes Constitutional Amendment.  That protects your principal residence/homestead from substantial increases in taxes.

But what about your investment property, second home, commercial realty, vacant land, etc.?  Public Schools and Local Governments can never get enough money; they are always trying to increase the assessed value.

Joan, my involvement is limited to:

   (1)  Advise them to look at the TRIM notice the day they receive it.  This is a good "reason to call or email" your SOI in August, when the notices go out.

(2)  Showing them the process for challenging the assessment; including filing a petition with the local VAB

(3)  If necessary, refer them to a good real estate attorney and/or a good real estate appraiser.  Yes, it will cost you money to save money, but many people will gladly fight that fight.

Yes, I have helped property owners protest tax assessments.

I help my clients in every possible way.  Annual property tax increases in my county cannot exceed 2%. 

That depends on what you mean by "help." I've had some calls and when I looked at comps I told a number of clients they didn't have a case. Beyond a quick CMA, I refer them to an appraiser in the area who will do a solid appraisal to help them contest it it makes sense to do so.

No, but I encourage them to apply for the homeowner occupant exemption which is a dramatic decrease in taxes.  It really helps people to afford living here.

I have helped many but I do not normally go with them to protest. Most of the time they find out their taxes are lower than their neighbors & that shuts them up. Don't make the situation worse with the assessor.

I've protested my own numerous times but many are too afraid to do anything about it.  There is a local attorney that I send them too.

We had that last year.  My house went  up 100%.  Just over doubled.  However, I still wouldn't sell it for that, so I didn't say a word.   Our county was among the first in Georgia to lower values when prices were falling in 2009 to 2012.  They aren't super "accurate" to market value, but they seem fair.  There are breaks for primary residence and seniors also.

It's hard to find comps to lower the Market Value of a house today!

Like I say a lot about Property Taxes, a house is an investment - home is what you make of it. But complaining about the taxes, it's like investing in a Stock and saying y'all would be unhappy to have to pay more in Taxes if the Value of the Stock went up. 

I personally like my Value to grow, it's the Tax Rate I am more concerned about...

I'm always happy to do a CMA to help them. Our new assessment isn't out but I imagine we'll be getting calls.

The only help I can provide is comps for the past year.

Currently I'm the chairman of our county property tax board. So if I help my clients I would have to recuse myself. I do send out email reminders to my clients for them to be sure to claim the home and other exemptions. We have had an increase in appeals with the market and tax assessments going up.

In CA we are protected from drastic increases due to Prop 13 (passed in 1978).  I did a few when there were rapidly falling prices during the mortgage meltdown, but then my county did a blanket reduction of thousands of properties (assessor felt it was cheaper than  litigating all challenges).

I guide them to the Assessor's office

Prop 13, the only good thing to come out of California (aside from sunshine and Reagan).

I hope this helps Joan, I have found the assessors are very stubborn around here.

These cities, states and federal governments spend money like water thus making them have to replenish it every chance they get. How much can the average American, who wants to live the dream, stand? Sure, money is necessary but quality management and leadership is a must too or...?

No, I don't see that as real estate professional's role at all; other than perhaps to provide information regarding recent property values, but that can be found online.

I am with you Joan,  I have lots of calls from past clients to help them.

We got a lot last year.  No real big hikes this year though.

Since most homes here are apartments, challenging the tax assessment is done at a building level and done by the building's managing agent. I do help my clients understand the tax bill if they ask, but some of it is a baffling set of variables that is housed in a black box that doesn't always make a lot of sense as it's based on rental values- and we have a large population of rent controlled and rent stabilized apartments. The city was ready to get serious about reforming our property tax system...and then covid hit- halting everything and I haven't heard about property tax reform since. 

Proposition 13, passed in a initiative vote in California in 1978 sets the assessed value of a home, and other real estate,for property tax purposes as the sales price of the home. The tax rate is fixed at 1% of that rate upon sale. Future annual increases in the assessed value cannot exceed the inflation rate with a max of 2% per year.

Los Angeles county in California is still under prop 13 so our property taxes are based upon purchase price with a limit to annual rise.  The only time we needed to fight assessments was after the county lowered the value temporarily and then raised it once the market values recovered.