Posted by Matt Longhofer on Sun, Feb 05, 2012 @ 02:05 PM
Dallas County property owners can now access their property tax information directly from the Dallas County Tax Assessor’s website. This website is designed to help you collect property tax information and pay your property taxes online. If you have multiple tax accounts you can create a portfolio to group these tax accounts together for easier review. Each portfolio may consist of one or more properties and includes pertinent property tax information such as property location, certified owner, and current year and total tax amounts due.
Payments for Dallas County Property Taxes
Dallas County accepts ACH, credit card, and debit card payments, although a 2.3% fee applies to payments made by credit card. Payments will be applied to current year taxes. Any remaining funds will be applied to delinquent taxes beginning with the oldest tax year due. If by chance you’ve overpaid your property tax account, you will need to complete a tax refund request. Just complete an Application for Tax Refund and mail to:
Dallas County Tax Office
Attn: Accounting Refund Section
Records Building
500 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75202-3304
Dallas County Central Appraisal District
For information relating to the appraised value of your property, you’ll need to visit the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) website. DCAD is responsible for appraising property for the purpose of ad valorem property tax assessment on behalf of the 61 local governing bodies in Dallas County. From this site you can search the appraised value of any property located in Dallas County. For those hoping to lower their property taxes, you can find important information related to appealing your appraised value and apply for exemptions.
Need Help Paying Dallas County Property Taxes?
If you are struggling to pay your Dallas County property taxes, you might consider a property tax loan. A Dallas County property tax loan can get you current on your past due property taxes and immediately stop the penalties and interest from the tax assessor. Qualifications are easy and flexible repayment terms are available. For a no cost consultation about property tax loans in Dallas County, contact Property Tax Funding at 214-550-3754.
Posted by Matt Longhofer on Sun, Feb 05, 2012 @ 02:04 PM
The Texas Property Tax Lienholders Association (TPTLA), a statewide alliance of companies that advance and protect the profession of property tax lending, recently launched its new and improved website. The redesigned site features easy to use navigation and educational information related to property tax lending.
Texas Tax Lenders - Members of TPTLA
The twenty member companies that make up the TPTLA are committed to upholding high standards of ethical conduct and operating in accordance with all applicable federal laws, state laws, and administrative rules. The goal of the TPTLA is to raise awareness of property tax loans and promote high standards of behavior among its members. The member companies originated $125 million of tax lien transfers in 2009, and appear to have originated nearly 80% of all transfers in 2010.
Pick the Right Lender when you need a Property Tax Loan
If you are considering a property tax loan, at a minimum make sure you are working with a TPLTA member company. It is also recommended you review not only the lender’s Better Business Bureau rating, but also the number of complaints recorded against that company. If you are really doing your homework, you should inquire about their fees for past due payments, past due collection policies, and even ask the lender how many foreclosures they’ve completed.
With a little extra time and effort on the front end you can find the right lender for your needs. Of most importance is to work with someone you trust who will take the time to fully explain the tax loan process and who will give you honest advice about whether a property tax loan is the right solution for you.
Posted by Matt Longhofer on Sat, Feb 04, 2012 @ 01:22 PM
While you wouldn’t know it from all the junk mail that arrives at your home every week, Americans are sending less mail. Mail use has been changing over the past decade as businesses and consumers have moved to electronic communication and payment alternatives resulting in a steady decline in first class mail usage.
Delivery of Property Tax Bills via Email
Texas tax assessors will soon be adding to this trend with a new state law that gives them the option to email property tax bills to property owners. The bill, filed by state Representative Charlie Green, came at the suggestion of Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, while she was serving as Tarrant County tax assessor. The bill received no opposition in the legislature since it was an optional program with no requirement for Texas tax assessors to implement the program or residents to sign up for it. Given the high cost of printing and mailing, many counties are considering adopting this program. Tarrant county spends $537,000 per year printing and mailing property tax bills and hopes to have a system implemented by as soon as this summer.
The Texas secretary of state has issued guidelines covering delivery of property tax bills by email. Included in the guidelines are suggestions which require a confirmation receipt of the email to ensure the recipient opened it. Other measures require the property tax bill to be mailed using tranditional mail if the confirmation is not received in 30 days.
Property Tax Help
Property owners that have not paid their 2011 property taxes are now delinquent and subject to penalties and interest imposed by the tax assessor. Fortunately, property tax loans are readily available and can be a great solution to solve a past due tax problem. If you reside in Tarrant County or any other county in Texas, you can apply online or over the phone for a property tax loan. The application can be completed in just minutes and your tax bill headache can be replaced with peace of mind and low monthly payments.
Posted by D. Howell on Thu, Oct 20, 2011 @ 10:23 AM
Tax Bills Issued in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Harris, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson County 
Most counties across Texas have now issued property tax bills for 2011 property taxes. The deadline for payment is January 31, 2012. If you are struggling to get your taxes paid by this deadline a property tax loan may be in your best interest. In general, Texas homeowners qualify for a property tax loan before the payment deadline if:
- There is no mortgage on the property, or
- There are delinquent taxes prior to 2011, or
- There is a current tax lien or tax loan against the property.
The benefits of getting a property tax loan now are:
- Some counties offer a discount for early payment of property taxes.
- A property tax loan will keep you from being assessed an initial penalty of 7% on February 1st.
- There is typically no prepayment penalty, so having your property taxes paid now can offer you peace of mind along with the flexibility to pay off the principal balance when it fits your schedule.
- If your property taxes are already past due, a property tax loan can prevent the tax assessor’s attorney from adding additional court costs and collection fees to your balance.
To learn more, call us toll free at 1-877-776-7391 for a low-pressure and honest evaluation of your best options. In addition, you can visit this page and enter your specifics and a loan officer will be happy to call and discuss your particular situation to see if a property tax loan is right for you.
Posted by D. Howell on Thu, Sep 22, 2011 @ 04:26 PM
First off, this blog is not intended to provide legal advice of any kind. This is just an overview of probate issues we encounter while doing property tax loans in Texas. We strongly encourage anyone going through probate and/or dealing with estate issues to hire a qualified probate/estate attorney.
WHAT IS PROBATE?
Probate is merely a legal process guided by Texas state law to help settle an estate – in short, to extinguish valid debts and distribute assets according to the provisions of the will. The process involves a court review of a decedent’s Will to determine its validity as well as the qualifications of the Executor to perform their function. Once deemed valid, the court will empower the Executor to settle the estate and authorize the issuing of “letters testamentary” – a legal document the Executor will use to verify their authority to act on behalf of the estate.
As a result of being appointed as Executor of an estate, the Executor has a “fiduciary responsibility” to act in best interest of the Will and the estate. These duties should not be taken lightly and it would be in the best interest of the Executor to seek a qualified probate attorney – which can typically be paid out of the proceeds from the estate in most cases.
COMMON ISSUES FOR THOSE SEEKING A PROPERTY TAX LOAN FOR AN INHERITED PROPERTY
We often receive inquiries from individuals seeking a property tax loan for property with back taxes they believe they have inherited – most often from the death of a family member. When this happens there are usually three situations we have to deal with.
Situation 1: The family member left behind a Last Will & Testament that clearly states the inquiring individual as the owner of the property. This is usually straight forward though sometimes the individual has not properly probated the will and will need guidance to get their affairs in order so we can provide them with a property tax loan.
Situation 2: Will does not clearly state the individual as the sole owner of the property. This usually occurs when there are several siblings who own the property and only one of them is living in the property and wants to take out the property tax loan. We can usually work around this situation as well, but keep in mind that all rightful owners of a property must authorize a property tax loan and this situation can present a problem if some of the owners refuse to cooperate.
Situation 3: The deceased did not have a Will – or died intestate. This situation happens way too often and it is the hardest problem to solve, but not impossible. Usually an Affidavit of Heirship is used to determine the rightful heirs of the estate in this situation. We have helped numerous clients obtain a property tax loan who were in this situation.
If you find yourself as the owner of a Texas property through inheritance and the property has back taxes, a property tax loan could be a good solution for you. We are happy to discuss your particular situation with you and make recommendations; however, there are numerous probate procedures available in the State of Texas, as such we always advise the guidance from a qualified attorney in determining which course is best for your situation. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your particular situation.
Posted by Matt Longhofer on Mon, Sep 19, 2011 @ 03:00 PM
SB 762 relating to the transfer of an ad valorem tax lien passed during the 82nd Legislature regular session. The act was signed by the Governor July 17th, 2011 and took effect September 1, 2011. The bill clarifies and cleans up some of the ambiguity contained in HB 2138, which provided for the creation and regulation of property tax lenders and passed during the 80th Legislature session. 
We’ve highlighted two key provisions below that will benefit consumers by shortening funding times and clarifying allowable post closing charges.
Property Tax Lending - Changes in Right to Cancel Rules
The bill clarifies that the 3 day right to cancel of a property tax loan only applies to residential property that is used by the property owner for personal, family, or household purposes. This change allows a property tax lender to immediately fund, after closing, all property tax loans for commercial properties, non-owner occupied residential properties (not used for personal, family, or household purposes), and investment properties.
Property Tax Lending – New Post Closing Fees Rules
The bill also specifies which post closing fees a property tax lender may charge. There are currently limitations on interest and closing fees in Texas Tax Code, Section 32.06, as well as Texas Administrative Code, Title 7, Section 89.601. By contrast, this bill applies to fees that a property tax lender may charge after closing.
The post-closing fees authorized under the bill are listed below:
- a fee for filing the release of the tax lien,
- a fee for providing a payoff statement to a bank,
- a fee for providing balance information,
- attorney’s fees for legally required actions to perform a foreclosure, or to respond to a taxing authority’s foreclosure suit under Chapter 33,
- post-petition fees if the homeowner files for bankruptcy,
- a fee for title examination,
- a non-sufficient-funds fee,
- a fee for collateral protection insurance,
- a prepayment penalty for properties not owned and used by the property owner for personal, family, or household purposes,
- recording expenses for loan modification,
- a fee for extra copies of loan documents requested by the homeowner (apart from two copies that the homeowner is entitled to).
These fees are the only allowable fees which a property tax lender may charge after closing a loan. Additionally, the fees must be reasonable in nature where defined in the administrative code.
Posted by D. Howell on Sat, Sep 17, 2011 @ 02:00 PM
We found an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal (clink this link to full article), dated August 20, 2011. A few of the salient points are summarized below. While we previously covered lowering property taxes specific to Texas property owners (click this link to see that blog), we found this article did a good job of laying out the opportunity for significant savings and the main areas where savings can be found. Here are two key takeaways:
HOME VALUES HAVE DECREASED YET PROPERTY TAX REVENUE HAS INCREASED
According to the article, “Property taxes across the U.S. have increased by nearly 20% from 2005 to 2009…” and the article continues “Over the same period, home prices in major urban centers fared badly, decreasing 31%...”
This is a very significant discrepancy. Keep in mind this article is taking the entire U.S. into account and Texas counties such as Harris, Dallas, Collin, Denton, Travis, Bexar, Tarrant, Williamson, etc. are fairing much better in retaining their home value, but the values have still declined.
The cause is property taxes don’t move in lockstep with home values. Some county assessors don’t review every property every year and the value reductions may not be incorporated into your current appraisal. It’s likely your current property taxes reflect your home’s value when the housing market was healthier. Since, you can’t do anything about the tax rate as this is set for budgeting and is applied to the appraised value of all similar properties in the county; your appraisal value is your only opportunity to reduce your taxes.
THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL COUNTY APPRAISAL APPEAL
From the article: “One key to a successful appeal: fact-checking the assessor’s work. About half of all successful appeals come from homeowners pointing out an error in the assessor’s description of their home.” Several methods are employed to assign a value to your home including house-by-house appraisals, computer models, or even aerial photos. This type of cursory review can leave out details that may lower your appraisal. Using these methods, a home in disrepair can carry the same value as an updated and renovated one in the same neighborhood. In addition to condition of property, factors such as square footage and # of baths carry significant weight. Correcting these discrepancies can result in a more representative value of your property and a lower property tax bill.
This seems true and to see more specifics on contesting your home’s value in Texas, see the blog link we posted above.
One of the key takeaways from the article is this: “Local officials say they expect appeals from property owners if it’s warranted, so don’t be shy.” This is especially true in Texas where the appeals window is opened every May when new proposed values are sent out to Texas property owners. So don’t be shy – arm yourself with the knowledge on how to have a successful appeal and then be forceful, yet tactful, in lowering your property’s assessed value.
Posted by Matt Longhofer on Sun, Aug 21, 2011 @ 09:37 PM
There were two Interesting articles recently posted in the Dallas Morning News.
Article 1
Dallas area Home Prices Down 4.7 Percent in Latest Case-Shiller Report
The S&P Case-Shiller index tracks changes in residential real estate on a national level as well for 20 metropolitan areas domestically.
According to this article, the latest Case-Shiller Index report indicates residential home prices in the Dallas area have declined 4.7% in May, 2011 from a year earlier. Of the 20 metropolitan areas tracked, 19 were down over the same period with only Washington D.C. seeing a gain in housing prices over the same period. The article goes on to say that Dallas prices improved by 0.9 percent in May over April, but this gain is only a reflection of the seasonal demand and should not indicate an improvement in market conditions. In addition, Dallas County home prices are down approximately 10% from the top of the market in mid-2007.
Article 2
Tax Rolls Show Rise in Property Values - Denton County
Despite the decline in property values as measured by the Case-Shiller Index, the Denton County, Texas property tax roll shows a rise in property value.
Denton County property tax rolls added $1.4 billion in property value over the past year taking the certified tax roll to $53.5 billion, which is a 2.8 percent increase from 2010.
The Deputy Chief Appraiser for Denton County indicated that many people saw their property values decline or remain the same over the prior year. He further indicated the property tax roll increase was due to new construction. Overall about $162 million in commercial property value was added and another 3,000 single family residences were added along with a 4% growth in multi-family residences.
Protest Your Property Value to Save on Property Taxes
Each year, when the Appraisal Districts send out their proposed certified tax values, property owners have a small window to challenge these values. If you did not see a reduction in your property value over the previous year, you will likely want to look hard at challenging your property value at your next opportunity (which should be around May, 2012). For more information on challenging property value, click this link to our blog article for additional help.
Posted by Matt Longhofer on Sun, Aug 21, 2011 @ 11:30 AM
Property Taxes Payment Provisions in Your Mortgage
When you are unable to make your mortgage payments on time you are legally in default of your mortgage contract. Default of your mortgage agreement can result in the lender exercising their right to foreclose on your property.
Many homeowners think mortgage lenders cannot foreclose when timely mortgage payments are made. However, mortgage lenders generally have additional provisions in their mortgage contact or deed of trust to further protect their interest in the property. These added provisions require the property owner to maintain hazard insurance and pay their property taxes when due. Failure of the property owner to meet these obligations is also a default of the mortgage contact and can result in foreclosure of the property securing the mortgage. According to a June 2010 story in the "St. Petersburg Times," the Federal Housing Administration and giant mortgage lender Fannie Mae are instructing their mortgage lending partners to initiate foreclosure when homeowners fail to pay property taxes and home insurance. According to the story, foreclosure is particularly being urged for reverse mortgage lending.
Can My Mortgage Company Pay My Delinquent Property Taxes?
We discussed what happens when a mortgage company steps in and pays your past due taxes in a previous blog (see article). Unfortunately, the consequences of the mortgage lender paying your delinquent taxes can be severe, resulting in a significant increase in monthly payments that may be greater than the property owner can afford.
Property Tax Loans Provide Help for Past Due Property Taxes
Property tax loans are readily available for past due property taxes. Loan qualifications are relatively easy, even for those with bad credit. A property tax loan will pay off all delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, and fees. The interest rates are far below annual penalties charged by tax assessors and loan processing times are typically short, generally less than one week.
Posted by Matt Longhofer on Sun, Jun 12, 2011 @ 11:42 AM
When Can a Taxing Unit File a Delinquent Tax Suit?
Section 33.41 of the Texas Tax code states that any time after its tax on property becomes delinquent, a taxing unit may file lawsuit to foreclose the lien securing payment of the tax, to enforce personal liability for the tax, or both. The suit must be in a court of competent jurisdiction for the county in which the tax was imposed. Each owner who owns taxable property on January 1 is liable for all taxes due on the property for that year. This means that an owner who owned taxable property on January 1 can be sued personally for delinquent taxes on a property, even if the property has been sold or transferred since then.
While the taxing unit's last resort is taking a delinquent property owner to court, a delinquent tax suit can lead to a judgment foreclosing the tax lien and authorizing the sheriff to seize the property and sell it at public auction.
Who Files the Delinquent Property Tax Suit?
Tax Assessors normally contract with a law firm to manage the legal proceedings involved in the collection of past due taxes. While each taxing jurisdiction unit has the option to select their own attorney, most jurisdictions in the county consolidate the legal collections with one or two law firms. In Texas, there are more than forty laws firms in the property tax collection business; however, the law firms of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson and Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott‚ LLP representing the largest contracting firms.
What are the Costs Associated with a Delinquent Property Tax Lawsuit?
In addition to the penalties and interest prescribed under section 33.01 and 33.07 of the Tax Code, the filing of a tax suit will result in additional litigation costs to the property owner. The costs can vary widely from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. While not exhaustive, we typically see one or more of the following fees in a tax suit – district court costs, abstract/title fees, citation fees, writ enforcement fees, publication fees, and sheriff’s commissions.
Can a Property Tax Loan Help?
Yes, a property tax loan can pay all past due taxes, collection fees, and litigation costs with no out of pocket expense to the property owner. With easy qualifications, a property tax loan can solve your past due property tax problem in a matter of days. If you’d like a no obligation consultation, please call one of our licensed loan officers at 877-776-7391 or apply online.