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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
Or have you greived on your own?
What was the outcome?
What should I beware of when considering tax greivance?
Lets say all of the homes around me are paying $3,000-$5,000...my house is bigger and worth more but we are paying 7,000....does that seem unreasonable?
Also does our house have to appraise lower than what its worth? If we greive what are possible negative things that can happen?
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Posted 1/28/07 11:01 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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lorich
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Member since 6/05 9987 total posts
Name:
Grammie says "Lora Gina"
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
Funny you post this...We've been told to contact Mark Lewis also. This is one of the first things we're doing once we get into our house.
Do you have his contact info? You can FM me if you'd like.
I'm not sure of the process, but I was told to contact him, give him our address and tell him what the true taxes are. Then he can give us a better idea if we have a case or not. Also, I believe it's something where if he saves us $1k, his fee is $500.
(At least that's what I was told....)
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| Posted 1/28/07 11:07 AM |
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apb17
My guys
Member since 5/06 2173 total posts
Name:
Alli
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
We met him in the center of Smithhaven Mall where he gave us his number. After calling him and going through the hassles he told us we were being undertaxed. We live in a small 3 bedroom ranch on a half acre w/$10,000 in taxes.
Gotta love LI!
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| Posted 1/28/07 12:04 PM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
I did all the legwork myself to have our taxes reassessed. I gathered info on surrounding houses - our taxes were $1,200-2,200 more than 4 other comparable houses on our same block. (Our house appraised for more than what we paid.)
Wound up reducing the taxes by a little over $2k! Definitely worth it for us. It is easy enough to gather info on your own - it is all public info from the town - rather than pay someone to do it for you.
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| Posted 1/28/07 12:59 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
so here's my next question Colleen, if we get a new appraisal & we are able to lower our taxes, would that affect our ability to borrow equity or refinance if we appraise lower now than what we did last year?
I'm just trying to see if there is any reason I would regret claiming that my house is over appraised. KWIM?
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| Posted 1/28/07 1:10 PM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
Honestly, I'm not sure what the answer is to that. It seems as though my grievance had nothing to do with the appraisal (since my house was appraised for more than what we paid). It seemed to go by comp taxes in my neighborhood. My taxes were over $8k and the exact same house (same sq ft, lot, updates) across the street was at $6200. The house next door has a slightly smaller lot but an upstairs dormer and an additional 1k sq ft of living space (apartment) and his taxes are at $7400.
The risk you take is that they realize they should (or could) be charging you more!
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| Posted 1/28/07 7:34 PM |
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-Lisa-
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Member since 5/05 6530 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
Posted by KellyFG
so here's my next question Colleen, if we get a new appraisal & we are able to lower our taxes, would that affect our ability to borrow equity or refinance if we appraise lower now than what we did last year?
I'm just trying to see if there is any reason I would regret claiming that my house is over appraised. KWIM?
Kelly, an appraisal has nothing to do with your taxes. I think your confusing the appraisal and the assessment (the towns assessed value of your house - which is Suffolk, is a pretty worthless figure, since they haven't re-assessed in forever).
Grieving your taxes would in no way impact your ability to refi or borrow against the house.
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| Posted 1/28/07 9:13 PM |
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Corinne
My munchkins
Member since 5/05 5010 total posts
Name:
corinne
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
we used them and they were unable to get our taxes lower.
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| Posted 1/28/07 10:46 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
Posted by -Lisa-
Posted by KellyFG
so here's my next question Colleen, if we get a new appraisal & we are able to lower our taxes, would that affect our ability to borrow equity or refinance if we appraise lower now than what we did last year?
I'm just trying to see if there is any reason I would regret claiming that my house is over appraised. KWIM?
Kelly, an appraisal has nothing to do with your taxes. I think your confusing the appraisal and the assessment (the towns assessed value of your house - which is Suffolk, is a pretty worthless figure, since they haven't re-assessed in forever).
Grieving your taxes would in no way impact your ability to refi or borrow against the house.
I didn't think an appraisal mattered either until I went I on his website & there is a $75 appraisal fee. I guess I'll call him & see what he thinks.
Message edited 1/29/2007 6:23:36 AM.
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| Posted 1/29/07 6:23 AM |
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danielleandscott
My new 71 Super Beetle
Member since 5/05 13476 total posts
Name:
Scott
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
When we bought our house last year, I received a letter from a lawyer that my friend had used to grieve his taxes for that year too.
Both of us still havent heard anything about the grievance. It is over a year now since we sent in the form to the lawyer.
The lawyer claims he is backed up. How backed up could he be...
Most of the houses on my block are around the same as taxes go. There are the ones that have been double dormered, and their taxes are close to $10k.
We have an 1100sq ft Levitt cape on 60X100 property. My taxes are $8300 now and $7100 with star. It is crazy taxes, but what can you do. Hopefully I will hear something from this lawyer soon
Scott
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| Posted 1/29/07 7:25 AM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
We used Mark Lewis.
They got us an 18% reduction on our taxes.
The fee was 1/2 of the amount of reduction.
It did take several months... maybe 6.
IMO very well worth it.
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:21 AM |
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William
LIF Zygote
Member since 2/07 2 total posts
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
Can anyone out there who has done it (tax grievance) themselves tell me how to go about it? Where do you begin?
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| Posted 2/20/07 7:24 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
My parents have used Mark Lewis for years and he always gets them money back.
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| Posted 2/21/07 7:08 AM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: anyone use Mark Lewis Tax greivance service?
Posted by William
Can anyone out there who has done it (tax grievance) themselves tell me how to go about it? Where do you begin?
Did you just buy your house? Or have you been living there awhile?
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| Posted 2/21/07 9:09 AM |
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