Just a head's up...got one yesterday & this is a scam:

Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Brought to you by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION SCAM ALERT
The Los Angeles County Assessor's office is alerting homeowners that various private companies are sending mailings to property owners offering their services to pursue a reduction in the owner's property taxes. The companies may charge hundreds of dollars to file for a reduction in value on behalf of the property owner. Some companies also are imposing late fees if the application is received after an arbitrary deadline. Solicitations from private companies offering to pursue a reduction in property taxes must clearly indicate that they are NOT a government agency and that their services are NOT approved or endorsed by any government agency. Failure to provide such notice is a violation of California law.

In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that allows a temporary reduction in assessed value when a property suffers a "decline-in-value." A decline-in-value occurs when the current market value of your property is less than the assessed value as of January 1. The assessed value is the value shown on a property owner's most recent property tax bill. Typically, an application from the property owner is required to initiate a review of the property's value by the Assessor.


More info

http://assessor.lacounty.gov/extrane...aspx?newsid=89

Fast Facts

Calif. median home price - December 08: $281,100(Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region December 08: Santa Barbara So. Coast $875,000 (Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region December 08: High Desert $137,560(Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Third Quarter 08: 53 percent (Source: C.A.R.)
Mortgage rates - week ending 1/22/09 30-yr. fixed: 5.10% Fees/points: 0.7% 15-yr. fixed: 4.80% Fees/points: 0.7% 1-yr. adjustable: 4.9% Fees/points: 0.6% (Source: Freddie Mac)

 

Thanks for the info. I wander how many home owners are going to be duped into this scam.

 

What these people do is exploit the ignorance of the typical homeowner who knows nothing about who they vote for nor take the time to try and understand the system. Anyone who owns a home can file what is referred to as a Prop 8 form requesting the Assessor's Office to re-evaluate their assessed value. Here comes the best part: it's free.
Since the majority of the masses know nothing about this it is ripe for opportunists to exploit the vacuum by sending out an official looking form, worded as such to avoid legal prosecution, requesting a fee to do what you the public can do for free. This request, if successful in having the value lowered in this market and it's a good chance it will happen depending on a number of factors, will yield hundreds if not a thousand or two dollars in savings. It is temporary by definition and will return to its regular base year level when the market rebounds.
That is the issue that almost everyone today can't see. This financial rat hole we currently reside in does not bode well for this nation or should I say the people of this nation. We are under a rock and a hard place. The politicians who are responsible for letting these corporate banking *******s get away with it are now poring more money(last figure I saw was approaching $4.7 trillion dollars!) still into their coffers under the lie they are providing a stimulus for the economy. Look at your investments 401k's or whatever. Do you fell stimulated? I think not. They do not have a clue on what to do. I digress.
Go to your local Assessor's Office, or call, and tell them"I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore! I want my assessed valuation reduced! Now!''
It's your money, do with it as you please but don't let these governmental agencies **** it away!
Anyone know where to get a deal on some performance tires for a 03 Touring?

 

^ post *****.

 

mother chucker!!! i got one this afternoon!!!!

i'm in NORCAL

i knew it sounded familiar, hence clicking on this thread.

i should send them a photo with my 2 fists, one holding a wad of cash and the other with the middle finger........


would you think they'll charge me a late fee?

 

does it have a self addressed stamped envelope?

 

yup, PO Box is in LA too

"Property Tax Reassessment"
PO Box 25519
LA

green self addressed env.

 

this is easy.

wrap a phonebook in brown papper bag like a present and tape it up good.

tape the envelope to the wrapped book, packing tape works best, drop it off at the post office.
they will deliver it and the company will owe postage on it.
Tell your friends, gather envelopes and phonebooks.

there is a whole website devoted to doing it....

http://officeofstrategicinfluence.com/bulkmailer/

 

I've been getting these too.....automatic shred.

 

i just got one too.... its called "property tax reassessment". i think thats the name of the company... and it states that i need to pay 179 for the assessment and after 2/27/09 i will have to pay for a late fee to the total of 209.00.

 

please mail them a brick

 

I love it, good tip. Might have to try this when my refi goes through and I get 100 letters for mortgage insurance...

 

I prefer to wrap up and send them bricks.

 

i would love to do that.. but the return envelop that they sent us are not paid envelops.. so i would need to put stamps on it myself.