A TAX NOTICE I WAS GLAD TO GET

So I go out to my mailbox a couple of weeks ago, and pull out my Sports Illustrated, Realtor Magazine and a bunch of advertising I had no need for. But then I came across this:
Not a particularly attractive post card. And quite frankly, getting anything with a county,IRS,or Franchise Tax logo on it is not necessarily good news. BUT...as I scanned to the bottom, I was over joyed at the sight of my home's value being upside down. The reason being, the County of San Bernardino is the one entity that I want to think my home has de-valued. Not only that, but this was accomplished in the recent election under Prop. 8 .
Smelling a reduction in my property tax (which may be the only smell I enjoy more than orange blossoms), I decided to investigate. Lo and behold, it worked! I lowered my mortgagepayment by $185.69/month. And I didn't even have to pay for the postage.It can for you too. If you live in San Bernardino County,and got the same post card....

Here's how:
1. Get a copy of your tax bill Click Here..Just follow the instructions and it will take you a link that says "Parcel
Number". Now click on that. Then click the link that says "View PDF".
2. When you see your tax bill (you'll know because the next thing you will see is Dick Larsen's name in large font)
look just below his name, and see the number under "Total Tax Rate" . Mine is .010594, or 1.0594%
3. Here's the only math you have to do. Use my tax bill as an example. My "Maximum Assessment" is
currently $575,341. Multiplying that by the Total Tax Rate gives you my existing yearly
taxes of $6095.16 ( $575,341 x 1.0594%= $6,095.16)....Now do the same for the "Fair Market Value as
of 1/1/2009" . That figure is $365,000 ($365,000 x 1.0594%=$3,866.81)
4. Subtract those two figures, and you'll get the yearly tax savings ($6,095.16-$3,866.81= $2,228.35) Since
my taxes are built into my payment, I divide $2,228.35 /12= $185.69.That is how much my mortgage
payment dropped. If it wouldn't have made for an uncomfortable moment, I might have actually kissed my mail
man. If the math is confusing, just drop me an email, or call and I'd be happy to walk you through it.

And just like Billy Mays.....WAIT...THERE'S MORE!!!
If your mail man wasn't nice enough to give you one of those postcards, and you think your property is worth less than when you bough it, you can petition the County of San Bernardino to lower your taxes. Click Here.. and be taken to the application page for The County.You may still get a reduction.

WAIT...THERE'S STILL MORE!!!
If you don't happen to live in San Bernardino County, here are some links you may be able to use:
For Orange County Click Here
For Los Angeles County Click Here
For Riverside County Click Here

If your taxes are built into your payment,and depending on your lender, you may have your payment reduced in the next month. And yes...THERE'S STILL MORE!! You may also have a refund from the overage your lender now has in your escrow account.