5836 E. Boniwood Turn, Clinton MD 20735 - For Sale!

THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT APPEAL PROCESS

Property owners sometimes feel that the department's estimate of their property value is wrong. The assessment appeal process is available to allow property owners the opportunity to dispute the value determined by the department. Property values rise and fall to reflect the market. A property owner should file an appeal when they believe that their property is not valued at its current market value.

Appeals may be filed on three occasions:

1. upon receipt of an assessment notice;
2. by a petition for review; and
3. upon purchase of property between January 1 and June 30.

APPEAL ON REASSESSMENT

Property owners will normally receive a Notice of Assessment every three years that shows the old market value as well as the new market value. The new value reflects the market influence and other conditions affecting the property from the time of the last assessment.

If you decide to appeal, the first step is to reply to the Notice of Assessment by signing and returning the appeal form within 45 days of the date of the notice. Following this, a personal or telephone hearing will be scheduled. Appeals can also be made in writing, eliminating the need for a hearing.

PETITION FOR REVIEW

You may file a petition for review by January 1 in the two years your property is not valued when events have occurred since your last regular assessment that you believe have caused your property value to decline.  If you fail to respond to the Notice of Assessment within the required time frame, you may file a petition for review by January 1 for the following year.  Click here to obtain a Petition form. The completed form should be mailed to your local assessment office.  After filing the petition, you will be scheduled for a hearing, or, if you prefer, your written submission can be reviewed eliminating the need for a hearing.  

APPEAL UPON PURCHASE

If you purchase a property and the property is transferred after January 1 but before July 1, you may file an appeal within 60 days of the transfer. After filing a written appeal, you will be scheduled for a hearing; or, if you prefer, your written appeal can be reviewed instead of having a hearing.

FIRST STEP - SUPERVISOR'S LEVEL

The first level of the appeal process, known as the Supervisor's level, is informal. You will present your case to an assessor designated by the Supervisor of Assessments. Typically, hearings at this level take approximately 15 minutes.

You can obtain a copy of the worksheet for the property free of charge from your local assessment office. The information on the worksheet will be reviewed at the time of the hearing to assure its accuracy.

For assistance in estimating the value of your property, you can obtain sales data from various sources, including: sales listings located in the local assessment office; commercially available sales reports and other information available at local libraries; local Real Estate offices; personal surveys of recently sold comparable properties in the area; and local listings of sales transactions in the newspaper. For a nominal fee, worksheets of comparable properties may be obtained from the assessment office.

To be most effective, you should:

• Focus on those points that affect the value of your property.
• Indicate why the Total New Market Value does not reflect the market value of the property.
• Identify any mathematical errors on the worksheet or inaccurate information describing the characteristics of the property (such as the number of bathrooms, fireplaces, etc.).
• Provide examples of sales of comparable properties which support your findings as to the value of the property.
• Avoid the following issues since they are not relevant to the value under appeal: comparison to past values, percent of increase, additional metropolitan costs, the amount of the tax bill, properties in other taxing jurisdictions, and services rendered or not rendered.

Your first level hearing should be viewed as an opportunity to present evidence which would indicate that the department's value of the property is inaccurate.

SECOND STEP - PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT APPEAL BOARD

Following the hearing, you will receive a final notice. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the next step which is to theProperty Tax Assessment Appeal Board. The second step appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date of the final notice from the Supervisor of Assessments.

There is an independent appeal board comprised of 3 local residents in each of the counties and Baltimore City. Property owners generally need no assistance at this step, no fees are required, and they are free to present any supporting evidence. You can obtain a list of the comparable properties that will be used by the assessment office before the Board if you file a written request to the assessment office at least 15 days before the scheduled date of the hearing.

THIRD STEP - MARYLAND TAX COURT

If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the Appeal Board, you can file an appeal within 30 days of the date of the board's decision to the Maryland Tax Court. The Maryland Tax Court is an independent body appointed by the Governor. Although the proceedings are more formal than the first 2 levels, it is still considered to be an informal, administrative hearing. Property owners who are in disagreement with the Tax Court's decision can appeal further through the regular judiciary system. Here you will probably need legal counsel.

RECAP

The assessment appeal process is a mechanism intended to assure an accurate property valuation. If you believe that the value placed upon your property is higher than it should be and if you can provide supporting evidence (such as sales information for properties comparable to your own), then it is in your best interest to appeal.

Want To Qualify For First Time Home Buyer Grant Programs?

There are plenty of grant programs offered by different Counties within Maryland.  In order to qualify for those programs you must take a Home Buyer class that teaches you, not only the components involved with buying your home, but also what it takes to keep your home.  Some of these grant programs provide upwards of $40,000 so it would be advantageous to do whatever is necessary to partake in these grant programs.  We recommend joining the Home Buyer's Club with Hope Financial.  They also offer a Fast Track class but we know there's no fast way to learn what it takes to achieve the American dream of home ownership.  See the comparison below.

HOMEBUYER’S CLUB VS. FAST TRACK BENEFITS CHART

Keller Williams Preferred Properties has invited Hope Financial into our office to offer the Fast Track class on January 11, 2014 from 9 - 5 pm.  You must call Hope Financial directly in order to register, 301-567-3330.  We thought this would make it easy on our wonderful clients who have already know where our office is.  Register to get your grant money today.  As I always tell my personal clients, if we don't use the money they'll stop offering it.  So use the money. 

How the Shut Down Impacts Your Mortgage Loan Processing

The Federal Government shutdown has occurred. 

So what does this mean to you, in general?  For the most part not much, unless it is for an extended period.  The most serious impacts are felt by USDA buyers.  Below is a general outline of what affects it will have on our industry.  These affects may change by lender.

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 FHA Loans

·         Lenders will be able to obtain a FHA case number from the FHA Connection

·         Limited FHA staff to respond to questions

·         CAIVRS will be available to determine if a borrower has a delinquent federal debt

·         FHA Total Scorecard will be available

·         FHA will collect the Upfront MIP during a shutdown

VA

·         The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will continue to operate if there is a government shutdown, which means lenders will be able to continue originating VA-guaranteed loans.  Both lenders and borrowers will be able to obtain the Certificate of Eligibility online, and they will still be able to submit applications and follow up on COEs that require more research with the Atlanta Eligibility Center.

Will VA loans be adversely affected in any way?  Answer = no

USDA

·         Indications are that Rural Development will cease all but essential functions and no new loans or guarantees will be made.

Will we be able to obtain a conditional commitment?  Answer = No

Can we close a loan without the conditional commitment?  Answer = No

Can we close a loan if we have the conditional commitment?  Answer = Yes

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

·         The IRS will NOT process any forms, including tax transcripts (Form 4506T).

Can we close loans without the tax transcripts?  Answer = No

Social Security Administration (SSA)

·         The SSA will likely NOT be able to verify social security numbers.

Can we close loans without verifying the social security number?  Answer = No

Fannie and Freddie

·         Fannie and Freddie would not be directly affected, except to the extent they rely on verification and other functions of HUD, IRS, and SSA.

Federal Reserve

·         The Federal Reserve – including the reserve banks – is not funded through the annual appropriations process;  thus a government shutdown would have no impact on Federal Reserve operations, including payment system and open market functions.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

·         The CFPB is not funded through the annual appropriations process; thus a government shutdown should have no impact on CFPB operations.

FEMA Flood Insurance

·         It is likely that mapping issues or amendments will be impacted.

·         Most functions will be unaffected because of their use of contractors and public/private partnerships.

Will I be able to get flood insurance?  Answer = yes

If the subject property is not yet mapped by FEMA and needs research by FEMA will my loan be affected?  Answer = yes

Can I close the loan if mapping research cannot be completed by FEMA?  Answer = no

Call or email me with any questions.

George Flower IIINMLSR ID 193157

Branch Sales Mgr - Prod
Prosperity Mortgage Company | 590 Baltimore PK FL 1 | Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone (410)274-7252| Fax (866)359-2062

george.floweriii@prosperitymortgage.com

www.georgeflower.com

New FHA Program Seeks to Return Foreclosed Borrowers to Homeownership

Housing Options & Planning Enterprises, Inc.  September 9, 2013 Real Estate Professionals,   The FHA "Back To Work" Program Is Official!   That's good news for borrowers who lost their home due to specific financial hardships but can now demonstrate they have regained their previously lost financial ground.  Housing Options & Planning Enterprises, Inc. (H.O.P.E.) * FHA Question & Answers Forms   New FHA Program seeks to return foreclosed borrower to homeownership After more than 2.5 million foreclosures, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is now offering a Homeownership Program that will put previously troubled borrowers back on a fast-track to the home ownership market. The new program known as "Back to Work - Extenuating Circumstance" cuts the standard three-year waiting period to only 12 months.  The list of eligible financial hardships reads like a list of housing crisis woes: · Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy · Deed-in-lieu · Forbearance · Foreclosure · Loan modification · Loss of income, employment or both that totaled at least 20 percent of previous earnings for at least six months - including copies of applicable termination notices or changes in employment status · Pre-foreclosure sales · Short sales Additionally, consumers must also meet other verifiable measures to participate in the program: · Proof of borrower's current income - usually W-2 forms or federal tax returns that show the desired mortgage would be affordable and sustainable; · Credit history pre and post the eligible hardship event that is free from late payments or other major credit issues, including rental housing payments and accounts delinquent by 30 days or more; · Credit score of at least 500; and · Housing counseling by a HUD-approved counselor at least 30 days but no more than six months before submitting an FHA application. For consumers meeting all of these criteria as well as other standing FHA mortgage guidelines, the Back to Work program is now available nationwide through FHA-approved lenders. Once participating lenders determine that mortgage applicants meet all eligibility and policy criteria, the same 3.5 percent minimum FHA down payment requirement will apply. Mortgage insurance and closing costs will also apply. Only one FHA program is ineligible for the Back to Work program: reverse mortgages. For more information about FHA "Back To Work" Program the Question & Answer form is link above.  Thank You,  HOPE Team HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency. Visit Our Wedsite at HOPEfinancial.org

Down Payment & Closing Cost Help for First Time Home Buyers

This post is a list of the programs that the State of Maryland and District of Columbia offers for first time home buyers.  The link opens a new web page for the program web site.

CDA, DSELP, HK4E: The Maryland Mortgage Program

MD Home Programs Web Site: A list of all available programs in MD

Buy Suitland Program

DC Opens Doors

DC HPAP

DC Tax Abatement Program - No Link.  Just check with your title company to see if you qualify.

What's most important is having a loan officer who is well versed and has experience in offering the programs.  In addition to these programs different mortgage companies may have their own programs to offer.

You should trust that your real estate professional, ME, has referrals for loan officers that have your best interest at heart.

GOOGLE ME - Angel S.

Copies of Prior Year Federal Tax Returns and/or a Transcript

Most taxpayers will ask for a copy of their prior year tax return. In many cases, however, a transcript will provide the information they need more quickly. Transcripts provide taxpayers with a computer-created record of their tax return which includes most of the line-items as filed with the IRS, including any accompanying forms and schedules. The transcript does not reflect any changes the taxpayer, his/her representative, or the IRS made after the return was filed.

• To download Form 4506 (Request for Copy of Tax Return) or Form 4506T (Request for Transcript of Return), refer to this IRS.gov page.
• If you were impacted by a federally declared disaster, you may request a transcript by phone at 1-866-562-5227 (Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday-Friday, your local time - except Alaska and Hawaii which are Pacific time.) You will still need to submit Form 4506 for an actual copy of a return. Send your request to the office indicated on Form 4506. You may fax or mail your request. Write the word “Disaster” on the top of Form 4506 and your request will be expedited at no charge.
• If the taxpayer used a professional preparer to prepare the prior year's return, he/she can request a copy of the return from the preparer. If they need help locating the preparer, the Electronic Return Originator data base may help.
• To request copies in person, you may refer taxpayers to the nearest IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC).
• For practitioners only – E-services (if enrolled)