If you're like most Americans, you work hard, pay your taxes, and go on about your life. You may even cringe at the mere thought of defrauding the government, because you KNOW that sooner or later, doing something like that will come back and bite you in the ass, and always at the worst time, right? Besides, you were all brought up BETTER than that anyway, eh?
Now, if there's ONE harbinger of springtime in Indiana, it's the receipt of your PROPERTY TAX statements.I'm sure every one of you LOVES to see LOWER taxes, and I'm not adverse to that one damn bit, either.
But there does come a time when LOWER taxes mean something a whole lot different that what you think.
Over the years, I've mentioned (here) about how OUR property was erroneously "assessed" so much HIGHER than most ANY other property around the area.
Wifey and I got this house from her parents on contract for $40K, back in '97.
About a dozen or so years back, it was pretty close to actual value, too. The assessment at THAT time was in the mid $50K range (property only, excluding the land, which was even worth substantially more than today).
So, we figured we weren't getting ripped off (at least certainly NOT by her parents). We were wrong.
The city/county was indulging themselves (monetarily-speaking) when it came to home-OWNERS in this part of town, and taxing them for properties that were "over-assessed" because they were the holdouts (that remained) from the massive increase of Section 8 properties (due in no small part to "white flight"). That went over like a pregnant pole-vaulter.Those few of us remaining here were taxed for houses that could NEVER be sold for anything close to "assessed value".
One neighbor (Billy) watched HIS taxes increase 108% on a property that was LOSING VALUE every year (he moved a few years back, and took the hit when selling). We were "lucky", as OUR taxes ONLY rose close to 50%.
(and that was because someone thought our house was worth assessing near $80K...wow, time to trade up?)
Well, that's what you get for being white and a homeowner on the SOUTH side of Fort Wayne.At one point (about 6 years ago), OUR house WAS assessed at $76.4K...!
This is while other houses were being sold for $7500 within a few blocks of our place.
So, we had a "showcase" on our hands (which is a work in progress every year - houses do NOT fix themselves)...or DID we?
Two years ago, we had to get a new garage roof.
Cost - $6K (approx.).
Last year, we had to have a fence replaced.
Last year, we had to have a fence replaced.
Cost - $1200 (and change).
Now, one would THINK that with such improvements, that the price would remain (at least) static for the property.
Guess again.
THIS year's tax bill rolled in, and our (modified) Cape Cod house (much like this one pictured HERE) that USED to be assessed at $76.4K was not even close to the (recently adjusted) $72K it went for just THREE YEARS AGO. Not by a country mile, friends.
Last year's assessment of our property (with that new garage roof and fence I mentioned) was $50.9K...!
But, hang in there...it gets even BETTER...
THIS year's assessment of the SAME house that used to be (at one time a few years back, that same $76.4K) is now "worth" a whopping $24.9K...!
(feel free to utter "W...T...F...???". I know I did - several times)
That's right, people....without doing much more than blowing a few thousand for IMPROVEMENTS, our corner property house is worth about 50% LESS than it was TWELVE years ago...
Our GRAND TOTAL of taxes we owe this year is a mere $89 (and change).
That's a far cry from that $1100 we USED to pay when we moved in (even with the homestead credit).
Imagine that.
Like I said, LOWER TAXES is aways a good thing, EXCEPT when it comes with it's own "price" tag attached.
The price we pay for these (much) lower rates and assessment, can be summed up simply enough.
SECTION 8 HOUSING TAKEOVERS.
Now, the ONLY thing that has changed in the 12 years we lived here (other than a few more gray hairs to go with that receding hairline of mine) is the increase of RENTAL properties, and the subsequent ethnically-diversified crap that accompanies such "people" that move into such hovels.
As it stands right now, I certainly would NOT mind paying higher taxes, IF it would promote several key things:
a) A much better quality-of-life for current homeowners down here (all 17 of us...lol).
b) Flipping most of these rentals into the hands of RESPONSIBLE OWNERS who have a REAL JOB and also PAY TAXES.
c) A more secure neighborhood, free from the crime we are privy to NOW (thanks to the rentals).
d) Accountability from ALL landlords with much more comprehensive background checks of prospective tenants.
Now that doesn't seem too daunting a task for someone in our city with a few functional brain cells, hmm?
This equal housing BS I've seen over the years (and in various cities) has NEVER done ANY area of ANY city ANY GOOD...period.
Much of this program (and others) rewards the lazy, and punishes the decent homeowner by forcing them to either adapt their own lifestyle to fit the dregs of society that move into such areas, or (worse)...forces the homeowner to vacate the area all together, allowing more rentals to surface, along with the human flotsam that infests these once nice houses.
Look at any of the data from major cities across the nation, and you invariably see that ethnic diversity in neighborhoods such as mine are leading to ruin, as well as depleting (further) an already tenuous tax base FOR those cities.
I stated years ago in our church that with such an eroding tax base, thanks to Section 8 takeovers of neighborhoods, Philly was destined to become a "welfare state"...and lo, and behold, it's a cesspool in hock up to it's neck.
Now, if you are like Wifey and me, living in a newly-founded (and funded) "Ghettohood" (which was actually in the making for several decades, courtesy of your local city "leaders", who couldn't see past their own billfolds), you wind up staring at a "perfect storm" of something I like to call a CATCH-22.
Anyone familiar with such a phrase (or has read Joseph Heller's novel) knows what I'm talking about.
Here's the WIKI *411* in case you want specifics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22_(logic)
At the least, our current situation is paradoxical.
But which PARTICULAR paradox becomes the issue.
We can no longer rely on the sale price of our house to "fund" a substantial down payment on a NICER place away from these assholes, now.
Now, one would THINK that with such improvements, that the price would remain (at least) static for the property.
Guess again.
THIS year's tax bill rolled in, and our (modified) Cape Cod house (much like this one pictured HERE) that USED to be assessed at $76.4K was not even close to the (recently adjusted) $72K it went for just THREE YEARS AGO. Not by a country mile, friends.Last year's assessment of our property (with that new garage roof and fence I mentioned) was $50.9K...!
But, hang in there...it gets even BETTER...
THIS year's assessment of the SAME house that used to be (at one time a few years back, that same $76.4K) is now "worth" a whopping $24.9K...!
(feel free to utter "W...T...F...???". I know I did - several times)
That's right, people....without doing much more than blowing a few thousand for IMPROVEMENTS, our corner property house is worth about 50% LESS than it was TWELVE years ago...
Our GRAND TOTAL of taxes we owe this year is a mere $89 (and change).
That's a far cry from that $1100 we USED to pay when we moved in (even with the homestead credit).
Imagine that.
Like I said, LOWER TAXES is aways a good thing, EXCEPT when it comes with it's own "price" tag attached.
The price we pay for these (much) lower rates and assessment, can be summed up simply enough.
SECTION 8 HOUSING TAKEOVERS.
Now, the ONLY thing that has changed in the 12 years we lived here (other than a few more gray hairs to go with that receding hairline of mine) is the increase of RENTAL properties, and the subsequent ethnically-diversified crap that accompanies such "people" that move into such hovels.As it stands right now, I certainly would NOT mind paying higher taxes, IF it would promote several key things:
a) A much better quality-of-life for current homeowners down here (all 17 of us...lol).
b) Flipping most of these rentals into the hands of RESPONSIBLE OWNERS who have a REAL JOB and also PAY TAXES.
c) A more secure neighborhood, free from the crime we are privy to NOW (thanks to the rentals).
d) Accountability from ALL landlords with much more comprehensive background checks of prospective tenants.
Now that doesn't seem too daunting a task for someone in our city with a few functional brain cells, hmm?This equal housing BS I've seen over the years (and in various cities) has NEVER done ANY area of ANY city ANY GOOD...period.
Much of this program (and others) rewards the lazy, and punishes the decent homeowner by forcing them to either adapt their own lifestyle to fit the dregs of society that move into such areas, or (worse)...forces the homeowner to vacate the area all together, allowing more rentals to surface, along with the human flotsam that infests these once nice houses.
Look at any of the data from major cities across the nation, and you invariably see that ethnic diversity in neighborhoods such as mine are leading to ruin, as well as depleting (further) an already tenuous tax base FOR those cities.I stated years ago in our church that with such an eroding tax base, thanks to Section 8 takeovers of neighborhoods, Philly was destined to become a "welfare state"...and lo, and behold, it's a cesspool in hock up to it's neck.
Now, if you are like Wifey and me, living in a newly-founded (and funded) "Ghettohood" (which was actually in the making for several decades, courtesy of your local city "leaders", who couldn't see past their own billfolds), you wind up staring at a "perfect storm" of something I like to call a CATCH-22.Anyone familiar with such a phrase (or has read Joseph Heller's novel) knows what I'm talking about.
Here's the WIKI *411* in case you want specifics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22_(logic)
At the least, our current situation is paradoxical.
But which PARTICULAR paradox becomes the issue.
We can no longer rely on the sale price of our house to "fund" a substantial down payment on a NICER place away from these assholes, now.
And staying put isn't the best option either, considering all these locals want IS your house (with you out of it).
But it IS the only option available right now, unless some miraculous event occurs, and sees fit to dump a truckload of dirty (and unmarked) $100 bills at our door to assist us in getting the hell "outta Dodge".
Funny thing, all it would take to oust us would be something catastrophic like an arsonist with some time on his hands.
But it IS the only option available right now, unless some miraculous event occurs, and sees fit to dump a truckload of dirty (and unmarked) $100 bills at our door to assist us in getting the hell "outta Dodge".
Funny thing, all it would take to oust us would be something catastrophic like an arsonist with some time on his hands.
I say that because the COST of renovation would far exceed the (new) "value" of the house outright.
You wonder whether it's a good thing to "improve" when you KNOW that money you sink INTO the house will NEVER be recouped.
Most people tend to realize maybe a 50% loss on ANY improvements they make. They only get back 50 cents on every buck they shell out (sometimes less, depending on the TYPE of improvement made). We wouldn't even get a damn DIME back for every dollar we spend on improvements (or even repairs) at this point.
And it all is thanks to our dear, sweet "AFRICAN'T-AMERICAN neighbors".
(yes, that's my *NEW* term for them - AFRICAN'T-AMERICANS - nothing positive about them, other than being positively annoying)
When it comes to neighborhood blight, the typical victicratic inner urban black has to be at the TOP of the list, and I speak from experience seeing this occur in several cities over thirty-odd years of travel.
You wonder whether it's a good thing to "improve" when you KNOW that money you sink INTO the house will NEVER be recouped.
Most people tend to realize maybe a 50% loss on ANY improvements they make. They only get back 50 cents on every buck they shell out (sometimes less, depending on the TYPE of improvement made). We wouldn't even get a damn DIME back for every dollar we spend on improvements (or even repairs) at this point.
And it all is thanks to our dear, sweet "AFRICAN'T-AMERICAN neighbors".(yes, that's my *NEW* term for them - AFRICAN'T-AMERICANS - nothing positive about them, other than being positively annoying)
When it comes to neighborhood blight, the typical victicratic inner urban black has to be at the TOP of the list, and I speak from experience seeing this occur in several cities over thirty-odd years of travel.
Wherever they seem to go, trouble and crime soon follows, along with litter and other forms of decline. All by choice.
(Some will no doubt view such claims as racist, or bigoted, but until they live down here, and expereience the overwhelming "joy" of being among such people, they can blow all the smoke they want out their uneducated and unenlightened asses...so there.)
Hell, even in white-trash trailer parks, you will still see flower planters or at least some nicely mowed lawns (among the rusted out cars, which can often be used AS flower planters...lol).
Hispanics tend to be a bit more meticulous when it comes to personal property, such as a house or an apartment. They enjoy maintaining what they've earned.
Asians are just plain fastidious!
I've got no problem with that, either.
I have never met a sloppy one yet (in America), and Chinatown in Philly is SO clean, you can eat off the damn sidewalks.
Around MY neighborhood, you can ALSO eat off the sidewalks, but that's because the "locals" toss a lot of half-eaten food along the streets...and the crows just LOVE it.
It always astounds me when I hear things like "The Southeast has the highest concentration of disposable income in the entire city". Remember that quote from last week's post? I'll never forget it.
So it makes 'ya wonder WHY we have little shopping down here, or more home-OWNERS, and HIGHER prices for the housing (here) with the appropriate taxation ON such houses (which would make the city smile IF it were true).
I mean with SO MUCH MONEY around here (as was said), where the hell is it all GOING anyway?
It certainly isn't going into ANY home improvements...or landscaping...not when houses are selling for at least HALF of what they used to be worth a decade ago...or lower (like those "bargains" for $7500 near us that helps to lower MY property's worth).
And yes, there ARE (more than a few) blacks who DO have nice houses and/or apartments, and I've been in quite a number of them, but this has become (much like our house here) the EXCEPTION, and not the norm among many neighborhoods that find themselves in a state of decline. You just have to love those government programs that cost decent people money and bankrupts the economy, don'cha?
Yasureyoubetcha!
Hell, some days I can "feel" my property value DECLINE when I see certain people walk past our house...it's THAT noticeable.
So, when you sit back and wish for lower taxes...be VERY careful what you wish for...
You just might wind up GETTING it.
But you may NOT like the manner it was presented to you.
And you certainly will NOT like the outcome, nor your new "neighbors".
Therein lies the lesson for today.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.
Hell, even in white-trash trailer parks, you will still see flower planters or at least some nicely mowed lawns (among the rusted out cars, which can often be used AS flower planters...lol).
Hispanics tend to be a bit more meticulous when it comes to personal property, such as a house or an apartment. They enjoy maintaining what they've earned.
Asians are just plain fastidious!
I've got no problem with that, either.
I have never met a sloppy one yet (in America), and Chinatown in Philly is SO clean, you can eat off the damn sidewalks.
Around MY neighborhood, you can ALSO eat off the sidewalks, but that's because the "locals" toss a lot of half-eaten food along the streets...and the crows just LOVE it.
It always astounds me when I hear things like "The Southeast has the highest concentration of disposable income in the entire city". Remember that quote from last week's post? I'll never forget it.
So it makes 'ya wonder WHY we have little shopping down here, or more home-OWNERS, and HIGHER prices for the housing (here) with the appropriate taxation ON such houses (which would make the city smile IF it were true).I mean with SO MUCH MONEY around here (as was said), where the hell is it all GOING anyway?
It certainly isn't going into ANY home improvements...or landscaping...not when houses are selling for at least HALF of what they used to be worth a decade ago...or lower (like those "bargains" for $7500 near us that helps to lower MY property's worth).
And yes, there ARE (more than a few) blacks who DO have nice houses and/or apartments, and I've been in quite a number of them, but this has become (much like our house here) the EXCEPTION, and not the norm among many neighborhoods that find themselves in a state of decline. You just have to love those government programs that cost decent people money and bankrupts the economy, don'cha?
Yasureyoubetcha!
Hell, some days I can "feel" my property value DECLINE when I see certain people walk past our house...it's THAT noticeable.
So, when you sit back and wish for lower taxes...be VERY careful what you wish for...
You just might wind up GETTING it.But you may NOT like the manner it was presented to you.
And you certainly will NOT like the outcome, nor your new "neighbors".
Therein lies the lesson for today.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.
12 comments:
Dear Bob,
With the recession we are having more renters in our condo and fewer home owners. The tenants do not have the same care for the common areas or the units themselves.
Recently, however, it is an owner who has invited a bad guest into the building who is wreaking havoc everywhere.
We think he is running pross, numbers, and stealing electronics. We have no proof, but people just keep turning in news and sightings and we are adding it together. The police have had him in and out on related charges. He just keeps turning up like a bad penny.
He is also (thankfully (!)) belligerent, which means we can take action w/o having to prove the rest. Renting is always a problem, but own or rent, people's delusions radiate onto all of us.
The neighborhood pulls together, or else it's just bad. Sometimes the neighborhood just pulls bad.
Good luck as always,
Ann T.
Ann:
Normally, I would tend to concur, but then again you have renters in CONDOS, and not houses such as these "starter homes".
Condos will tend to attract better tenants (usually), especially with all the "rules" there are.
Around here...anything goes.
Renters didn't used to be this way...
My parents rented houses until I was a freshman in high school, and no one ever spoke ill of us, nor complained about us.
We moved when it became too costly, or the landlord did not do repairs in a timely manner.
Momalways treated ANY place we hung our hats as HOME, and we ALL acted accordingly, which carried all the responsibilities AND respect we accorded to others.
Good luck with that bad apple...
Just hope he doesn't wind up spoiling the bunch (as has been the case here in "Ghettoland abusement park").
SIX FLAGS...it ain't!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Hey Bob- As you may have picked up, I left Cleveland several years ago. My neighborhood was in serious decline, and I decided just to bite the bullet, take a front end loss, and escape.
I'm damn glad I did. It hurt to take a loss on the sales (I also owned a rental in the same neighborhood, took a loss on the sale of that, also) to the tune of $30k all told. Ouch, ouch, ouch. But I pity the bastards who are still there. They're going to hold for life, as it rots further, and they will grit their teeth and hate it.
I decided my mental health was more valuable than the cash. I could always make more. Sanity can't be replaced, far as I can tell.
bob, your one of the few that understands why i am filing bankrupcy. i have nothing to lose. amen to your post.
Mike:
At the rate we're goin, I'm gonna need DENTURES because my real teeth are getting worn down from all that "gritting"...
And yes, mental health vis-a-vis SANITY does play into the mix.
Obviously, the city cares not whether good people leave the area (and take their MONEY with them).
One would "think" it would be the OTHER way around, especailly since cities are cash-strapped to beat the band.
Logic has gotten back-asswards of late.
Welcome to BIZARRO WORLD, my friend.
Thanks for stopping by...good to see you're doing OK.
Indy:
I knew several people who filed bankruptcy, and they came out a LOT better on the other side of it.
It's not for everyone, but when you've little if any other recourse, you will find it can actually become a GODSEND, instead of a MILLSTONE around your neck.
We've got "enough" to lose, but we would much rather continue being GOOD STEWARDS of what the Maker has provided for us.
Then again, I never was one who LIKED to lose...(reminds me of a certain James T. Kirk, and his academy days...LOL)
I much prefer to "change the rules" in our favo (as he did).
Here's hoping.
:)
Thanks for stopping by...always a pleasure.
Bob G:
I had may house appraised early last year in order to get a lower-rate mortgage. At the time my appraisal by the county assessor for 2008 taxes payable 2009 was $131.7K. My brand new private appraisal was $92K!!
So I filed an appeal. The county folks told me that my appraisal was too new because comp sales from 2006 and 2007 were being used for tax purposes. However, they graciously did a new calculation and lowered my appraisal to $124.6K.
This year, they lowered my appraisal to $121.6K but my taxes went up $50. So I gathered up my private appraisal papers and filed another appeal. It will be interesting to see what happens.
The moral of this story is that the dropping home values are affecting everyone's home values, but our government, which is mandated to value according to market is not using current market. Look for another drop in taxes next year. Hmmm ... maybe they will have to pay you!
BTW, guy, there is always 'Busco.
Gadfly:
I can totally understand the housinhg market decline in areas where houses typically go for over $100K.
We've had scads of foreclosures already for houses that were either at OR above the median prices.
Our house might have been the median a few decades ago, but that was before all the white flight.
Market value is definitely what these people are looking at...!
ANd when you consider the "value" that can be found in a "Ghettoville", houses that COULD be worth something, because their owners STILL maintain them and keep them looking nice, are worth less and less each year, thanks in no small part to the "clientele" that display a wonderful transience as they move every year around the same area.
ANd here I thought that only CARS depreciated in that manner (title changeovers)...
Used to be a time whren DIAMONDS and REAL ESTATE were items that went UP in value over time.
Would be really nice to have the CITY PAY US to live here...you might be onto something...LOL!
'Busco sounds nice...so does Harlan...or MONTANA...LOL.
(it's always in the back of MY mind these days).
Hey, thanks for swinging on by and commenting.
:)
well i was looking at my tax paperwork becouse of the legal things going on. when i bought my house i didnt realize that taxes had appraised my home at 10,000. or so. at its peak it was appraised for 63,000. now its at 43,000 and dropping. i was even part of the over priced mortgages and didnt even know it. lol who whould know it.
Indy:
Looks like were in the SAME boat...just at DIFFERENT OARS...!
Wow, you dropped from $63K to $43K?
And then to $10K?
Seems that neighborhood sounds a lot like MINE...
Wonder why THAT was?
(yeah, we ALL know WHY)
:)
Hey, thanks for stopping by.
I got my property tax bill and mine have double in the last year. That is on all 3 parcels. Pretty hard to take on a fixed income. Add to that no COL increase for us retired folks on Social Security. Guess something will have to go.. phone? internet? TV? this is what I have worked all my life to enjoy. Good think I still have my sense of humor.
MSN:
Thank God your properties are going UP...not much else IS these days, ESPECIALLY in OUR neighborhood (well, except the NOISE from boomcars...there's that).
Even GOLD has dropped off a tad...!
Don't give up the INTERNET...whatever you do!
We need your sense of humor...seriously!
It keeps me "grounded".
:)
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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